Page 2914 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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This really is important. As Mr Stefaniak has already mentioned, there were several reasons for these, and each reason was given if you read the introductory speech. In each case, mention was made of the reasons why, but certainly the urgency for these was dictated by the end of the financial year. Those concerned were the taxation measures and the audit amendment, the transfer of Commonwealth responsibility with the Director of Public Prosecutions Bill, the Assembly committee seeking an extension of time, the chemical treatment amendment, and an agreement with New South Wales with undertakings to the finance industry - the Registration of Interests in Goods Bill.
If you actually look back, in each of these cases there were well-given reasons why these particular Bills had to be introduced and passed fairly quickly. The exception to a special need was the publications control legislation. I think the issues involved in that legislation had been debated in and out of the Assembly for some time. The legislation that was passed as a matter of urgency was the subject of appropriate consultation; for example, the X-rated videos legislation.
Mr Stevenson spoke to the Business Franchise ("X" Videos) Bill, the Publications Control (Amendment) Bill and the Taxation (Administration) (Amendment) Bill. He did not seek to delay the passage of the Bills to allow time for consideration, and I think Mr Stefaniak addressed ways in which that could have been done. Mr Stevenson mentioned earlier that this list could take forever. In fact, it did not take forever. I have listed very few Bills and it really did not take very long at all. I think the Government has well demonstrated, in this case, that the number of Bills that Mr Stevenson made reference to was very few, and they all had very good reasons why they were introduced and passed very quickly.
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (4.19): I had originally not proposed to talk on this issue, but under the circumstances, and given the interesting factors that were raised in the debate by - - - (Quorum formed)
As I said, I had not planned to speak on this issue at all, but given the interesting points that were raised by the speakers, Mr Stevenson, Mr Moore, Mr Stefaniak, the Attorney of course, and Mrs Nolan, I agree with the statements made from members on this side of the house. Whilst I support, in principle, the concept that there should be time devoted for consultation in relation to proposed legislation, I also feel that to sheet the problem home to the Government, and raise this as a matter of public importance, which to me is - - -
Mr Stevenson: I was not sheeting the problem home at all. I was just bringing it up. I mentioned last year - - -
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