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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 10 Hansard (18 October) . . Page.. 3201 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I thank members for their support for this legislation. They have supported it in the past, and I heard the Chief Minister make certain comments in relation to it which have remarkable similarity to what he said when we were extending the period in the legislation by one year.

Mr Speaker, this has become necessary only because of the extraordinary delay which has occurred-and such delays may well occur in the future-in relation to the inquiry into the tragic hospital implosion which killed Katie Bender and then, of course, the drawn-out proceedings which remain in the courts or are yet to come before the courts. I think that the last I heard they were due to come before the courts next March. I think I saw something on the television last night about it but I am not quite sure what that was about. It was some reference to this court matter which is impending.

This bill merely allows prosecutions to be pursued in the event that further evidence turns up in further criminal or civil proceedings which might occur in relation to this particular event, but also in relation to any such event because it seems to me that this has the possibility of setting a precedent for drawn-out cases in the future. So I thank those members who have supported the bill, and I thank the government at this stage for its indifference.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister) (1.04): I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the sitting pattern.

Leave granted.

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