Page 2305 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994
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We have not seen much good faith on the part of the Government yet, but they expect us to take them at face value. They say, "If there are any major problems, trust us. We are from the Government. We will fix it". I do not trust them. The Public Sector Union obviously does not, and I suspect that there are a lot of other professional organisations and groups, whose interests are going to be materially affected once this Bill is put into place, who do not trust them either.
It is not good enough to force through this kind of legislation, flawed legislation, over the objections of a significant number of members of this Assembly, over the opposition and the objections of a very large part of the constituency of the Government which is going to be affected by it, and without having any regard whatsoever for the consequences of that for the general public and the taxpayers of this Territory. I argue very strongly, Madam Speaker, that, under those circumstances, if the Government had any conscience at all it would adjourn this debate until those issues are resolved and then bring the legislation back. I submit that, if they did, the legislation would take a rather different form from that which it is taking now. I ask the Government to think very carefully. Before they proceed to debate this flawed legislation and put it into effect, against widespread opposition and concern, they should think very carefully about what they are doing and support the motion for deferral.
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (10.38): Madam Speaker, first of all, may I apologise to Mr Kaine. I make that apology on behalf of his leader rather than the Government. It is obvious that Mr Kaine has not been kept informed by his leader as to the events that have occurred since last Friday. Mr Kaine, you talked about the DPP, the Legal Aid Commission and ACTEW. You also talked about section 50 transfers.
Madam Speaker, last week, when we adjourned the debate on clause 1, it was agreed that there would be a process put into place. It was agreed that we would attempt to provide, as far as practicable, the amendments to the legislation by the close of business last Friday; that we would attempt to negotiate, at a round table conference on Monday, the matters that were still in dispute between all of the parties; and that we would come along today, hopefully, with the final amendments and be able to proceed. That, in fact, is what we have delivered.
Mr Kaine: Rubbish!
MR LAMONT: It is not only what the Government has delivered; it is what Ms Szuty has delivered; it is what Mr Moore has delivered; it is what Mr Stevenson has delivered; and, dare I say to you, it is what Mrs Carnell has delivered. Mr Kaine, it is what Mrs Carnell has delivered, because the amendments proposed following the round table conference have been incorporated into the Government's amendments. That simply is the position that was agreed last week, and that is the procedure that we intend to go through today.
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