Page 4048 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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MR HUMPHRIES (12.15): Madam Speaker, I do not retract one word of what I said about this committee having represented a low point in the Assembly's committee process. Ms Ellis has been a fairly stalwart supporter of the committee process - in fact, a very stalwart supporter of that process. But on this occasion I am afraid that, in my opinion, she did not do her duty. The overwhelming impression I have of the process of this committee is of being part not of an investigative team but of a burial detail. It was clearly the intention of both Mr Moore and Ms Ellis to make sure that CIR was buried before the next election. That was their intention, and that was what they succeeded in doing.
Madam Speaker, we had 24 submissions; apparently, it is now 25 submissions. At least 22 of those 24 are in favour of CIR. Not one of them said, "Delay this matter beyond next year's election"; yet, the report says, "No CIR before the next election". Not one person argued for that. The most important recommendation in this committee's report was, "We cannot proceed with CIR now". Not one person argued for that. You have gone in the face of every person who expressed a view about CIR before the committee. What was the point of hearing hours of evidence from people in favour of CIR when - - -
Mr Moore: That is a misrepresentation, because you know what the Belconnen Community Council, Graeme Evans, Mr Chapman and a whole series of people said. That is just gross misrepresentation.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I expressly put to the people from - - -
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: Mr Moore has had his opportunity to speak to this report. I was sitting here while he was speaking, and Mr Humphries listened to him in silence. Mr Moore should do Mr Humphries the same courtesy.
Mr Moore: For Mr Kaine I shall, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Moore. Perhaps a bit of quiet would help.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I expressly put to those witnesses who appeared before the committee and who were in favour of CIR the question, "We have a choice of going ahead at the moment with this legislation, with possibly some things that you might like to improve about it, but which we cannot improve; or we can defer it until after next year's election. What do you think we should do?". In every case, including Mr Evans and Mr Henry, the suggestion was that we should try to get the legislation through before the end of this parliament. Mr Evans certainly did say that he would prefer to have his amendments incorporated in that process before it happened, but he did say that he wanted the Bill passed before the end of the year. Even though Mr Evans is now a member of the team of the non-party, the Moore Independents, I put it to you that Mr Evans would still say that this is an important enough issue to deal with.
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