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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1230 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The Assembly will be aware that existing provisions ban the sale and exchange of military-style automatic weapons. Consistent with the APMC resolutions, these amendments will go further, to ban the possession of all such weapons. It is this Government's intention to introduce as soon as possible a regulation, consistent with the agreed national position, which will provide for the limited exemptions from these provisions which were agreed at the APMC meeting. The Government will also introduce a comprehensive Bill to give effect to the range of other matters agreed at the national level.

I have indicated to members that I will be seeking to bring this Bill on for debate by no later than Thursday of this week, to ensure that the very large changes introduced by this legislation are clear and are in place as soon as possible. I commend the amendments to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Ms Follett) adjourned.

PAPERS

MR SPEAKER: For the information of members, I present a report of a study trip undertaken by Ms McRae, MLA, to Brisbane on 12 April 1996, and also a letter from the Chief Minister, Mrs Carnell, MLA, relating to the resolution of the Assembly on 17 April 1996 concerning an inquiry into the treatment of animals at Woden Valley Hospital.

Ms McRae: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: What is the reason for the Chief Minister giving you a letter to table? I understood that normally you tabled Auditor-General's reports and travel reports. I ask just for clarification, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: It is a letter.

Ms McRae: Yes; but the Chief Minister could write to you at any time.

Mrs Carnell: It was the letter that the Assembly asked me to - - -

Mr Moore: Because the Assembly ordered an inquiry.

Ms McRae: All right; that is what I am asking you to tell me. I did not know.

MR SPEAKER: A resolution was carried by this Assembly, and the Chief Minister is advising me, on behalf of the Assembly, that she has written to the Commissioner for Health Complaints requesting that he conduct an investigation.

Ms McRae: Thank you. Mr Speaker, as a further point of order: The Assembly is sitting; so, why could the Chief Minister not have simply given us a copy? But never mind.

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