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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (25 February) . . Page.. 367 ..

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted -

	AYES, 9		NOES, 7

	Mr Berry	Mrs Carnell
	Mr Corbell	Mr Cornwell
	Ms Horodny	Mr Hird
	Ms McRae	Mr Humphries
	Mr Moore	Mr Kaine
	Ms Reilly	Mrs Littlewood
	Ms Tucker	Mr Stefaniak
	Mr Whitecross
	Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the affirmative, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

In-Principle Stage

MR BERRY (11.32): I present the Holidays (Amendment) Bill 1997.

Title read by Clerk.

MR BERRY: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, I will deal first with the criticism of not bringing this matter on earlier. Consideration of this issue has been the subject of lengthy discussion with potentially injured parties, it was the subject of discussion with the law office, and a set of drafting instructions was given. A Bill was supplied to me which was unsatisfactory in its operation. It could have been dealt with by the beginning of last week's sitting, but I was not going to build up the hopes of anybody until I was sure that the process I had adopted would work. I received the final draft Bill this morning. It was not until late last week that I had come across a means by which the holiday could be included in the Holidays Act. The process is to declare the union picnic day as a holiday and then schedule in 60-odd awards which, I am informed, provide for a union picnic holiday.

This is a protection of the status quo. It is not intended to advance this condition to anybody who did not enjoy it before. It is intended, however, to prevent the loss of the condition from a range of awards which have been before the Industrial Relations Commission. The urgency of the Bill arises in the light of the fact that the holiday is to occur next Monday, and many workers are concerned about their entitlement to that holiday. Some of them have had their entitlement taken away. This will restore it.

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