Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (1 September) . . Page.. 2688 ..
MS CARNELL (continuing):
Whilst there was some initial consultation about an early draft of the Bill some time ago, there has been little or no consultation on the Bill in the form in which it was tabled in the Assembly ...Certainly Australian Business has not been consulted.
Mr Berry: So what?
MS CARNELL: Mr Berry says, "So what?". Australian Business is a - - -
Mr Berry: Have you consulted everybody?
MR SPEAKER: Order, please!
Mr Berry: I am sorry; I withdraw that.
MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, Australian Business is a business organisation which has something like 8,000 members and clients throughout New South Wales and the ACT. It represents a broad range of industry sectors. As to Mr Berry's comment, I think it is very clear that Australian Business is a stakeholder in this area. I turn to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the ACT, an entity that has 1,500 ACT-based members - again, a not insignificant body. Mr Speaker, a letter from it says:
The Contract Cleaners Guild, which is a section of this Chamber, has not been consulted with by Mr Berry. The committee of the Guild met with Mr Berry some time prior to the Bill being drafted, and - - -
Mr Berry: No.
MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker!
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Corbell: That is just untrue.
MR SPEAKER: Never mind; it can be refuted.
Mr Berry: I agree.
MS CARNELL: The letter continues:
... despite his undertaking that consultation on the draft Bill would occur, it has not.
Mr Speaker, I can only go on what people who represent a very large number of Canberra-based businesses have said in letters to, I think, all members of the Assembly. Certainly, Mr Kaine would have got the letters and other members would have, too.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .