Page 1953 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 24 October 1989
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With the Small Claims Ordinance, we have seen how hundreds of the debt collecting agencies are using a free claim filing service to pursue debts. One proposal put forward is to put a filing fee on these claims. Now, what about the disadvantaged people who wish to pursue or defend a claim there who do not want to have costs? That should be regularised soon.
The Roads and Public Places Ordinance contains anachronistic provisions giving anyone the right to stop the elevation of any footpath. Few people know that. It can be ample grounds for review from resident groups who do not like to see a development going on.
The Pyramid Selling Ordinance needs reforms, and there have been recommendations from law-makers and law enforcers over the years. I note the Tobacco Ordinance. The taxes and the means of enforcing some of the environmental and health safeguards suggest additional reforms.
I am sure my colleague Mr Jensen will expand on the opportunities and possibilities within the Unit Titles Ordinance. Two of those are that, with a very swift amendment, some public concerns at the moment could be solved and, additionally, we do not have a body corporate surveillance authority. In New South Wales, of course, for $20, in a very cheap, informal process, bodies corporate that have internal disputes can have an arbitrator look into the matter and determine it in a very relaxed, informal way. It has worked very effectively in New South Wales. We do not have a system here but there are endless measures we can be bringing in here.
I move to the Weights and Measures Ordinance. It is still not clear to many people, and it is still arguable, that our water meters do not conform with weights and measures legislation. There is a provision that suggests that exemptions are provided for water-meters, but every weight and scale system in the Territory usually has to be tested periodically. When was your water-meter last tested, Mr Whalan?
The failure to share power, the failure to consult colleagues in this Assembly about necessary community-required reforms, and the gamesmanship that has gone on have been disgraceful. When I speak of gamesmanship I speak particularly of things such as the fluoride Bill, where the Deputy Chief Minister sat down at the detail stage and, of course, the Rally fell for it and ended up with law on the floor. There are no second reading speeches and here we had a Bill, necessitating debate, brought to a very premature close in a situation where forward planning, forward discussion and the existence of a Bills committee forced upon the Government only in the last week would have precluded the issue that brought the Assembly largely into disrepute.
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