Page 3425 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 19 September 1990
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I think that we really should think about whether this measure is the appropriate vehicle for this situation. In my view, it is not, and that is the reason I am moving this motion standing in my name to refer the matter to the Administration and Procedures Committee. I note also that, under the terms set out by Ms Follett, the committee would be expensive to establish. At a time when control of expenditure is very important, it would cause some considerable cost, and I am not convinced at this stage that that cost is warranted.
I also note the point made by another speaker that the proposed measure would be the only thing of its type in Australia, and I would not think that was an appropriate thing to do at this point in time when the atmosphere and the debate on this matter have been so highly politicised. If this were a purely objective, impartial, non-partisan approach in a different context from the one we now have, I would be more inclined to accept it. But it is not, frankly.
I think Ms Follett's motion needs further work and the appropriate way to provide that further work, I believe, is through the Administration and Procedures Committee. I therefore move:
That the motion concerning a Standing Committee on Ethics be referred to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedures for consideration and report to the Assembly not later than 1 November, 1990.
I hope the matter can be dealt with more expeditiously and more appropriately in that forum.
MR MOORE (11.04): Mr Speaker, I am delighted to be able to stand up to speak to this motion this morning. I must say I am delighted to see the new motion, which we are debating concurrently, that has been moved by Mr Humphries, because, whilst it is important to consider the ethics issues relating to the Assembly, it is also very important for us to be careful, if we have a standing committee able to handle an issue like this, that it go to that committee. I now make it clear that I will be supporting the motion of Mr Humphries.
On the matter of ethics, I thought I would start by quoting some of the maiden speech of Ted Mack in the House of Representatives last week:
People must be part of the decision-making process whenever it affects them. We must shift to participatory democracy through a whole range of mechanisms such as greater use of referendums, acceptance of the people's right to initiate and even veto legislation.
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