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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 841 ..

MR BERRY (4.59): As an issue of business in this place, I raise this matter for consideration by the Government. I think Mr Stefaniak indicated that it was his intention to make available the Government's response in the course of consideration of Assembly business order of the day No. 1. That is a most unusual way to deal with that sort of business.

Government members: No, it is not.

MR BERRY: Hang on a minute. We will do it in chorus, if you like; we will get up together. Let me have a go, and then you can all have a crack as well. It is usual to deal with the report of the standing committee first. The motion was that the report be noted. Once that motion is dealt with, it is usual for the Government to provide its response and place the matter on the notice paper. This is a debate about a motion that the report be noted; so it seems a little unusual to approach it in that way. I ask the Government to consider that in future, because, in business terms, the process seems to be much tidier; it will let us deal with the motion before the house before the Government makes a response.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Sport and Recreation) (5.00): I am not going to talk on this particular issue; I have already said something on it. Like Mr Moore, I want to put on the record that I am delighted that our Canberra Raiders will be playing in a competition, albeit not in the competition that they would desire to play in. That, in itself, is most unfortunate. At least they will be playing. Hopefully, the court case will decide the future of rugby league in general in Australia, in the five-day sitting starting in late May. At least our team is on the paddock. Regardless of what competition they are in, I certainly support them in whatever they do and wish them well.

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: You must have swallowed the whistle. The second rower over there has disobeyed all the rules, and you are not blowing the whistle on him.

MR SPEAKER: I am sorry; I thought he received leave. In this orgy of self-congratulations, I thought he might have received leave. Is leave granted for Mr Stefaniak to speak?

Leave granted.

Mr Moore: Provided he does not get any more time.

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