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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2601 ..
MS DUNDAS
(4.59): I cannot let another opportunity go by without speaking on guns! We will be supporting this amendment, which corrects an anomaly that I believe was spotted by the department. This amendment is an indication that the legislation is being rushed. This bill was introduced nine days ago and then brought forward today for commencement in just another five days.At 5.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MS DUNDAS
: As I was saying, we still have no copy of the regulations that describe the compensation, we have no comprehensive list of hand guns and accessories and we have no price list that is attached to these accessories. I am supporting the bill but wish to make the point that other states have not rushed this through to start on July 1, as they are not 100 per cent certain that they have either the legislation or the administration correct.I flag here that, if there are further delays, I offer my support to the extension of the amnesty and compensation period, if it is required, in the future. It is important to get this right, as the safety of our community is at stake. But I think the amendments that have been moved-a number of pages being circulated today-indicate that we should have taken a little bit more time to work through this. Even today I have received phone calls to my office about this piece of legislation from people asking for more time to work through it, and it is a shame that we have had to rush it through in the way that we have.
MR WOOD
(Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Arts and Heritage and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (5.02): We received advice from the Prime Minister very recently about this. It is understood that there has been a deal of discussion over a period. We were awaiting certain outcomes, and we have incorporated those.From our end of the business it does not seem that things are rushed. They are certainly moving apace, but it is all measured. Bear in mind, too, that the Prime Minister's letter that encouraged these amendments also indicated that they will fund fully that part of the buy-back. So there is some good news in it, too.
Amendments agreed to.
Clause 22, as amended, agreed to.
Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole, and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Workers Compensation Amendment Bill 2003
Debate resumed from 19 June 2003, on motion by Ms Gallagher:That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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