Page 1890 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 14 June 1994
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I think I have made it clear that the majority of the committee do not support this legislation, and we do not support it for good substantive reasons - reasons the Government must take on board, must consider, must examine. To suggest that they can do it between now and 1 July and amend the legislation in that short timescale in such a way that it is acceptable is clearly an ambition that cannot be realised. Other members of the committee no doubt will speak; but I think it will be a travesty if the Government attempts, as it has indicated it is going to do, to ramrod the legislation through this Assembly within the next three to four days. It will inflict on this community and on our 23,000 public employees legislation that is unacceptable. It is second-rate legislation and it can only result in a second-rate public service.
Before concluding, I must thank the committee secretary, Mr Richard Cavanagh, who has worked under great stress, under great pressure, to analyse the information that has been put to the committee and to produce a substantive report. Regrettably, I understand that Mr Cavanagh is leaving the Assembly, and I would like to record my view that that is a great loss to this Assembly. I would also like to thank Mr Lamont and Mr De Domenico, both members of the committee - Mr De Domenico was the original chairman - before they handed over the reins to me and other existing members of the committee. They made a substantial contribution to the outcome, and I would like to record my thanks for their contribution. Madam Speaker, when I tabled the report, I moved that it be noted and that the recommendations be adopted. I did that quite deliberately because I believe that the Government has an obligation to adopt these recommendations.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, on that point, you need leave to do both things. Under the standing orders, you can move either that the report be noted or that the recommendations be adopted, but you cannot do them together.
MR KAINE: I did not think anybody would notice, Madam Speaker. Since you have brought it to my attention, I seek leave of the Assembly to move accordingly.
Leave not granted.
MADAM SPEAKER: Leave is not granted, so the motion before us is simply: That the report be noted.
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, I amend my motion. I move:
That the recommendations be adopted.
Mr Berry: I think that is the one you have to have leave for, is it not?
MADAM SPEAKER: No. You need leave to do two things together. On presentation of a report to the Assembly, you can do one of three things. Mr Kaine has chosen the course of action of moving: That the recommendations be adopted. That is the question before us.
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