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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (25 February) . . Page.. 362 ..
Leave to Present
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to present the Holidays (Amendment) Bill 1997.
Leave not granted.
MR BERRY (11.13): I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Berry from presenting the Holidays (Amendment) Bill 1997.
It is disappointing that the Government would seek to prevent this matter from being debated this day, because it is an important issue for people who are affected by this proposed amendment to the Holidays Act. Mrs Carnell has issued a press release that is a brazen misuse of the facts, but that is something we have come to expect from Mrs Carnell.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, be careful that you debate the suspension of standing orders and not the Bill itself.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, that is what I am doing. The Government, I anticipate, will argue that this Assembly does not have the power to make these decisions, given the press release - - -
MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, you are now debating the Bill again. Will you please argue the case for the suspension of standing orders.
MR BERRY: I am indeed, Mr Speaker. If you interrupted less, Mr Speaker, I would get on with it.
MR SPEAKER: I will interrupt if I feel that you are straying from the path of righteousness - in this case discussing the topic before us.
MR BERRY: I would stick to your job as Speaker, Mr Speaker. You will not make much money out of being a comic. The situation is clear. This motion should be considered by this Assembly today because we have the power, and it has been recognised by the Industrial Relations Commission that we do have that power. They said in their decision on the issue of public holidays:
We also accept that the declaration of public holidays, by whatever legal instrument, is the prerogative of the various governments.
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