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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 12 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 3698 ..


MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

gauges in those two States in particular remain a supreme monument to the lack of foresight, the lack of planning and the lack of integration between the then Australian colonies, now States.

It is worth remembering that today we have greater movement and interaction of citizens of this country than ever before. The need to ensure that we have a system in place which reflects a single national approach to issues such as the regulation of motor vehicles and the provision of road rules has never been greater. It is a testament to the hard work of the various governments and Ministers involved, including our own Mr Smyth and his predecessors, that we have a chance today to be able to put in place extremely important legislation of this kind.

I heard the comments of Mr Hargreaves concerning the desire to put off discussion on this matter. I note that we do have at this time a national implementation date of 1 December. I think it would be unfortunate if the ACT were not part of that national scheme on the date on which other States become part of it, Mr Speaker, and I think there is a strong argument for that being the case. Mr Berry shakes his head. He does not feel that there needs to be that level of national involvement from day one. He is always very willing, Mr Speaker, to put off until tomorrow what could and should be done today.

Mr Moore: Unless it is their legislation.

MR HUMPHRIES: Unless, of course, is their legislation. I note, Mr Speaker, that when we had, earlier today, amendments to the Public Sector Legislation Amendment Bill, we received notice of those amendments two days after they had been drafted. I understand that other members of the Assembly were given the privilege of seeing those amendments and the Government was not.

Mr Berry: No, no; I circulated them this morning.

MR HUMPHRIES: Well, they were available two days ago, Mr Berry. I am afraid the date on the bottom of your sheet demonstrates they were actually supplied to you at about 3.40, or they were prepared at least at about 3.40 on Tuesday afternoon. That means you must have got them on Tuesday afternoon, and you did not bother to give them to the Government, whose legislation it was, until Thursday morning. I understand that you supplied copies of those amendments to members of the crossbenches. My understanding is that they were supplied to members of the crossbenches yesterday.

Mr Kaine: No.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Kaine says no, but I understand that they were. Perhaps someone could check that out. The shadow Minister responsible could check that out.

Mr Berry: I do not care either. It has been passed, Gary, so do not worry.

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, that is fine. That is the point, Mr Berry. That is exactly the point I am making. We were presented with an amendment of which we had no notice and we passed the legislation because it was important to pass it. We are asking you to give the same kind of understanding and acceptance of a national - - -


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