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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3353 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

which makes it more difficult. I was not able to be involved in the round table arrangement that led to several amendments, and I am informed by the debate here today that some of those are to be moved by Ms Tucker, which have been circulated today. I have not seen these before today, so I will have to work my way through them in the Assembly.

For my part, given the strong reaction today to the Public Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill from the Scrutiny of Bills Committee, I do not feel too comfortable about going past the in-principle stage. With all of these amendments, given that we are three years or thereabouts down the track from the development of this legislation, it would be prudent for me to delay further consideration of the detail stage until the next sittings of this Assembly, in order that a full examination can be made of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee's comprehensive and vigorous report in relation to the Public Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which we will consider subsequent to this.

I should say at this point that Labor will be supporting the Bill because it is a piece of legislation that has been developed in comprehensive discussion with the community. I have circulated the legislation to areas in the community for response. I have to say that, at this point, I have not received too much reaction to the Bill. I think anybody picking up this piece of legislation might be a little daunted.

Mrs Carnell: It is because they have responded before, because they have had so many opportunities to respond.

MR BERRY: I think most people would be daunted by the legislation because it is fairly complex. I do not think there is any doubt about that. Those sorts of things take some time to deal with.

I repeat that, for my part, I am happy to support the Bill in principle. I am not as comfortable as I would like to be about the amendments that have been put forward by the Government. I have merely skimmed them since I received them yesterday, and I would prefer that the Public Health Bill not be carried through the detail stage until we next sit. I will certainly be resisting the carriage of the Public Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill at all today. I do not think it should go through the in-principle stage, because I think there has been a comprehensive and vigorous report by a committee of this Assembly which few people would have had the time to read in detail. Certainly, I have not. I, for one, will be moving for its adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

MR SPEAKER: You will have your chance to debate that when we come to it, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I am merely informing people where I will be as we lead up to it.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care) (5.52), in reply: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank members of the house for their support for this piece of legislation, which has been a long time in coming. A lot of work, a lot of consultation, has gone into it. I would agree that the process since the tabling of the legislation has been a very good one, and it is one we need to continue to use.

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