Page 1550 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 27 September 1989
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relevance of civil liberties to the matter than I was when the Residents Rally was arguing the case for a reduction in civil liberties for the people of Canberra with the move-on powers. We will probably not forget the Residents Rally's stand on that in relation to civil liberties.
My view is that the Government has an obligation to deliver a responsible decision to the people of Canberra on this matter, and that is why we must not back away from any opportunity to get this matter out into an area where it can be publicly debated and considered by the people in Canberra. As the Minister responsible for health, irrespective of the relevance of the arguments that are put here today, I believe that what has to be considered is a proper inquiry. Any responsible Minister for health matters would not move on the quality of the debate here today, because it just has not been up to the standard on which one would make a decision which affected so many members of the community.
It is all right for you to mock the depth of feeling about issues of health which affect our relatives and children, but it is a serious matter and one that we have to consider closely, not lightly, in the way we have done in a couple of hours this morning. There are lots of issues that need to be considered in this. One of the issues that I think demonstrates clearly that this is an ill thought out piece of legislation is the issue of the supply of alternative means of delivering fluoride to people who might want it. There has been not one word on how much that would cost the community - not one word. Not one moment has been spent on developing a policy for the supply of this - - -
Mr Jensen: Why did you not tell us that in your speech?
MR BERRY: If you had not realised - - -
Mr Jensen: I realise all right; you are wasting time again.
MR BERRY: You are getting quicker on the uptake. If you had not realised, what I am trying to point out to you is the need for it to be referred to a committee. We realise, Mr Jensen, that it takes a little time to get the message across to people like you, but you will get your turn to speak, like everybody else.
Mr Jensen: I have got all night.
MR BERRY: So have we, because this is an important issue and we intend to pursue it to seek to implement the Government's policies on consultation.
I think I should now turn to the issue of the Australian Labor Party's platform so that members of the Assembly will be very clear on the party's position in relation to consultation. I think this describes it well, and I quote:
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