Page 2164 - Week 10 - Thursday, 26 October 1989
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the way the Government is prepared to use New South Wales as an example of what is good and wonderful when it chooses to do so and to reject it on other occasions. I can recall an amendment that we from this side of the chamber moved in respect of tough environment laws that the New South Wales Liberal Government was bringing into place and how the Government squealed with disdain at the idea of having to support some motion that in any way commended the New South Wales Government.
Yet now they are saying that the New South Wales Government deserves to be followed; the New South Wales Government is setting a lead. You cannot have it both ways, Minister. You cannot have your cake and eat it, but that is exactly what you want to do. I am also advised that the New South Wales Government has struck snags, and is continuing to strike snags in this regard, and is finding great difficulties in applying these changes to the law that it has been looking at.
There was another argument put forward, by Mr Duby in this case. "This is an urgent piece of legisation; the Government needs it in place quickly; it has got to have its Bill there in time for the new tax grab on 1 November; we'll miss out on the $200,000", says Mr Duby, "if we don't get it in place straightaway". I see - as the Chief Minister points out - that this was announced in the budget statement back on 26 July. Why has the Government taken three months to bring this legislation forward, and why is it now saying - - -
Ms Follett: We have had a consultation period, Gary.
MR HUMPHRIES: I will come to that in a minute, Chief Minister. How fortuitous that you should say that. I will come to that in a minute. We will see how well you have used these three months.
Mrs Nolan: We had a meeting only this morning.
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes. The three months period is still going; it was going at 8 o'clock this morning.
Mr Kaine: At the thirteenth hour, not the twelfth.
MR HUMPHRIES: At the thirteenth, indeed.
Ms Follett: At your request.
MR HUMPHRIES: At our prompting. Mr Speaker, the Government says this is so urgent it has to be done this month. It has left this Bill until the week before it has to be in place - in fact, days before it has to be in place - to meet its own self-imposed 1 November deadline, and now the Government says, "You have got no time; you have not got time to consider the implications of this Bill. You have had enough time by the details we gave you on 26 July. That full page there was enough information
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