Page 27 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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identifies the responsible Minister and the category of priority accorded to each proposal. I might note that my colleague the Chief Minister forwarded a copy of this, prior to the sitting today, to the Leader of the Opposition.
The Government is seeking to provide members with a full listing, which is being distributed now, of the range of legislation currently under development. Accordingly, the program includes proposals for legislation which are in their early stage of development and which have not yet been subject to formal consideration by the Government as well as Bills that are close to introduction. Members should also be aware that the program is indicative to the extent that changing priorities, drafting requirements and the evolving nature of government policy formulation in the ACT will effect how quickly and in what order legislation is developed and introduced into this Assembly.
The program identifies three categories of priority for the government legislation proposals, and in that regard I wish to say a few words about these categories. The first category of priority represents those legislation proposals, the drafting of which has been presently accorded the highest priority by this Government. It is the Government's intention to introduce as many of the Bills which fall into this category as possible before the conclusion of the autumn sitting.
Members should, however, note that some of the proposals arise from the possible transfer to the ACT of responsibility for the Supreme Court and corporate affairs, subject to our further determination of the outcome of the recent High Court case, by the middle of 1990. Maintenance of the first category of priority for these proposals would be contingent upon their transfer within this time frame.
In relation to the legislation proposals which fall into the second and third categories of priority, some may also find their way into the Assembly before the middle of the year depending upon progress with the issues involved and the availability of sufficient drafting resources. In this regard it should be noted that the extent of the Government's progress will place considerable demands upon the resources of the legislative counsel.
The Government is providing its legislation program with the objective of providing a meaningful indication of its present legislative agenda. I trust that members and the public will find the document to be informative and helpful. However, I do not anticipate that by providing this formulation in essence of open government this Government will be forced to debate Bills and proposals which are at a sensitive stage of pre-government and government commitment. I present the following paper:
Alliance Government's legislation program - Ministerial statement, 13 February 1990.
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