Page 614 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 4 July 1989
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Nature Conservation Legislation
MR HUMPHRIES: My question also is directed to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services. Given the Chief Minister's statement earlier this afternoon in response to the Fitzgerald report and, in particular, reaffirming her commitment to open and consultative government, I want to ask the Minister about the consultation that occurred with the relevant members of the community over the recently passed Nature Conservation (Amendment) Bill. Is it true that neither the Wildlife Foundation (ACT) Inc. nor the ACT branch of the RSPCA was consulted about the Bill? Does the Minister consider these organisations unworthy of being consulted, or is her department exempt from the Chief Minister's policy?
MRS GRASSBY: We have had all these groups, except the RSPCA, in our office not to discuss the Bill but to ask them what they felt needed to be included. At times the conversation came round to these sorts of things. We informed them that we were taking them into account, and they were pleased to hear that we were moving in this direction. But at all times, as with housing, we have been bringing in groups to discuss the different things that are part of my portfolio, as the Chief Minister has asked me to do.
MR HUMPHRIES: I wish to ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. By "these groups", does the Minister include the ACT Wildlife Foundation, which has specifically told me that it was not consulted in relation to that Bill?
MRS GRASSBY: No, I do not think representatives of the ACT Wildlife Foundation were there. I asked my department to contact all the people who were involved in this area, and I left it to my department to do it. If they were not contacted, I am very sorry. Obviously the department left them off the list.
"Republic Of Kamaria"
DR KINLOCH: As this questions without notice period comes to a close, I would like to ask a question which is an historic first for this Assembly. I ask it of the Chief Minister in her capacity as foreign Minister. I am deeply, deeply shocked, Mr Speaker, to discover that the "Republic of Kamaria" has opened its consulate in Canberra and that we were not consulted. I ask the ACT Government and its foreign Minister whether the ACT Government recognises the "Republic of Kamaria". If so, when will the necessary diplomatic arrangements be made? Is someone in mind as the ACT's ambassador to Kamaria?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Dr Kinloch for the question. I deny categorically that I have duties as foreign Minister. I believe that all such relations between Australians and
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