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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5004 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care) (8.19), in reply: Mr Speaker, I have a couple of amendments to move in the detail stage. They are quite simple amendments. I would like to thank members of the Assembly for their support for this Bill. It has had, shall we say, a very long evolution from its initial stages. It is quite interesting legislation and, in some circumstances, quite difficult legislation. The way it has been handled by Ken Patterson - Ken is in the gallery - and his team has been very impressive. Also, Fiona Tito, one of the Greens' candidates, did a lot of work on this as well. I would like to congratulate Fiona for it as well. They and all of the other people worked very hard to achieve what is unique legislation, which means that Canberra, again, will be leading Australia in areas of difficult basic reform in government.

The little old ACT Assembly does arouse a certain level of derision, I suppose, from some areas of Australia in terms of our political approaches to things, but yesterday there was some trendsetting greenhouse gas legislation passed. It was the Greens' legislation. Mr Moore had legislation with regard to making sure that members of the Assembly, and that means members of the community, are aware of the sorts of negotiations that are happening at the Federal level. Our financial management reforms are state of the art. We are now hosting more delegations from other States and overseas to have a look at how we manage our financial reforms, or to look at our financial management approach. They are so transparent that we almost cannot cope at times. Then there is information technology for teachers and students, and the InTACT strategic partnership approach to outsourcing. Mr Humphries tonight is flying to Hobart to, I hope, this time convince his Federal ministerial colleagues that the approach we have put forward with regard to X-rated videos is the appropriate approach.

Ms McRae: With the current state of his voice he has not much chance, Mrs Carnell.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, he will be extraordinarily sexy when he puts the position. I am fascinated that those opposite find the comments that I am making unacceptable.

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I think you are misleading the Assembly.

MRS CARNELL: Yes, well, that is true. Well, you know, it is all right; it is a matter of perception. Mr Speaker, I think we sometimes do not appreciate the level of innovation that this Assembly does bring about and how regularly the approaches that we take are taken on by other parliaments in Australia when they realise the world as they know it will not fall over. Our smoking legislation is now being looked at by a very large percentage of other States. When we brought it in the world as we know it was about to fall over, but it did not fall over. I am confident that the same thing will occur with regard to greenhouse gases. I am also sure that our financial management approach will be taken up by other States.

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