Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 13 Hansard (5 December) . . Page.. 4438 ..

MS McRAE (11.35): Mr Speaker, I move:

That the order of the day listed under private members business on the notice paper in my name, relating to consultation on legislation, be referred to the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in June 1997, with particular reference to the viability and usefulness of the process outlined.

This is a matter of quite some interest and importance, on which we began a debate, but which I believe deserves far closer and perhaps more detailed scrutiny than we were going to obtain in the debate. Certainly, as it has been well over six months since we had the debate, my words ring true. The Assembly has had other things to consider and other issues before it so this matter has not come to a head.

The area of concern here which I believe would be greatly enhanced by the scrutiny of the Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee is what level of consultation occurs before legislation comes before the parliament. It is an area that is not new. It has been looked at and acted on by a great number of other parliaments. I believe that an inquiry such as I have outlined, to be completed by June 1997, would greatly enhance the debate when it does come back to the Assembly and I would then be able to have my original motion come to a conclusion. I commend the motion to the house.

MR MOORE (11.37): Mr Speaker, I have some difficulty with the motion referring the matter to the committee. I am working on my recollection of the - - -

Ms McRae: You supported me when we spoke on it. Come on! You do not know what you are talking about.

MR MOORE: I am working on my recollection of the motion, because I cannot find it in the notice paper. Mr Speaker, you might indicate to me the number.

MR SPEAKER: It is item No. 9, on page 1109.

Ms McRae: Michael, you said in debate that it needed further scrutiny. You said it. It is in Hansard.

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. I must say that I have some difficulty with this. Since I spoke last time in the Assembly, I have given this quite some thought. The difficulty I have is that the members of the Assembly can request that each piece of legislation and subordinate legislation put to the Assembly have the following information:

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .