Page 1556 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
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indicated, the Alliance Government is committed to having a strong, effective police force in the ACT.
One disturbing aspect occurred today which I think must worry the police and the citizens of the ACT. They really must ask themselves: just how committed is the Opposition to a strong, effective police force in the ACT? How committed is it to the effective policing of the ACT when it introduces a Bill to get rid of what are widely regarded as very effective move-on powers? I am glad Mr Collaery has tabled the report of Assistant Commissioner Bates in that regard. I hope the Opposition will read that very carefully and, upon reading that, withdraw the Bill which does nothing to engender confidence either in the community or among the police who will be coming over to us shortly. I look forward to seeing the report to which Mr Collaery referred.
I am heartened by the comments made by Mr Connolly about the briefing provided to him and other members of the Opposition by Mr Collaery in relation to this matter. This is something on which we all need to work together to ensure an efficient transfer of policing functions from the Commonwealth to the ACT. I commend to the Assembly a bipartisan approach to that, as much as is physically possible in this place. As I have indicated, it may well not happen on 1 July, but I anticipate that it will happen shortly thereafter, and it behoves us all to ensure that we get the best possible service from the police when they are handed over to this Territory.
MR WOOD (4.22): In his speech today, once again the Deputy Chief Minister cautioned us to be careful in what we say in this chamber about the judiciary and, it seemed to me, court structures. I have heard this on a number of occasions in this Assembly. I believe I speak responsibly when I stand up, and I will continue to do so, but I do not believe that the courts, the magistrates and the judges are beyond debate. That is argued from time to time, especially by Mr Collaery.
It is just two months before we take over responsibility for police and justice. That is what I was going to say. But we have slippages. A changed date is probably now inevitable, and it is wise. We should not hasten into it. But what has been happening all this time? We sought information, but nothing much goes on. Mr Collaery made it quite clear in his speech that departmental officers, ACT and Federal, have been talking. He also made it quite clear that that talking is his definition of consultation. That is all there has been. He tried to claim - I wrote down his words at the time - that there had been consultation. Yet all he could say for it was that departmental officers have been talking; they have been negotiating. He used as an excuse the recent Federal election. Yet at no time did he suggest that he had endeavoured to have ministerial discussions with Senator Tate. So I do not know that the Federal election really
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