Page 1518 - Week 05 - Thursday, 12 May 1994
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In the debate yesterday we heard from all sides of the chamber that we were improving that legislation and that these people were working in very difficult circumstances. I heard no constructive suggestions from you. Indeed, you made very little contribution. Yesterday we had all the officials present, so that if you had anything constructive to add we could have taken the officials' views; we could have had a constructive debate. But no, you maintained silence when we were looking at the details of the legislation under which these people playing God, as you call them, operate. You sat there and allowed that to happen. Now you come in here in the adjournment debate with this vitriolic diatribe of hate directed at these officials who, as I said yesterday, are in one of the most difficult jobs that any public official can conduct - when a decision has to be made that the state has to intervene to protect a child from a family. It is a very difficult area in which to operate. Your performance today, Mr Cornwell, was very disappointing to this Government. I hope that Independent members listened carefully to what you had to say, because this is what would happen if you people were in government. Presumably you would be Community Services Minister, Mr Cornwell, and I hope that Independent members think about that whenever they are tempted to support your party.
International Year of the Family
MS ELLIS (5.15): Madam Speaker, it saddens me a bit to raise the matter that I wish to raise today after the disappointing speech that I heard from Mr Cornwell. My reference to the International Year of the Family is of a much lighter nature, but I am afraid that it tends to be affected somewhat by the sombre attitude of the Assembly at this stage.
I want to invite all those who do not happen to be residents of the Tuggeranong Valley to a really terrific occurrence this coming Saturday. As part of the International Year of the Family the Tuggeranong Community Service and the Tuggeranong Community Centre have gone to a great deal of trouble and effort to put together a family day aimed specifically at the enjoyment of families - I believe, at no charge to them - between the hours of 11.00 am and 4.00 pm on Saturday at the Tuggeranong Community Centre. Should your child be interested in something as happy as Humphrey Bear - obviously, Mr Humphries, that is right down your alley - or should your older children be interested in Questacon, you will find that what this committee has put together for this day's program is fantastic.
I want to commend the people who have taken it upon themselves, mostly in their own time, with the encouragement of the Tuggeranong Community Service, to put this day together. I would urge any members of this Assembly who are interested in seeing a very good day's activities aimed primarily at families to avail yourselves of a visit to the Tuggeranong Community Centre on Saturday between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm. I am sure that you will find the program very impressive. Should you do so, I am sure that your words of commendation to the people who organised it would be very welcome as well.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 5.17 pm until Tuesday, 17 May 1994, at 2.30 pm
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