Page 4621 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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should be debated in this Assembly before any Bill is passed as being urgent - it should sit for a minimum of 30 days. The fact that some of these things may have been flagged in a budget, or in some other place, does not diminish that responsibility one iota.
We should give the people of Canberra, whether they want to take it or not, an opportunity to comment on these Bills. It would also give members an opportunity, if they need it - and I am not saying that this particular one is a requirement, but it is fairly obvious - to do whatever research they need to do to find out whether they should support the Bill or otherwise. It would also give them time to contact people, business organisations and others within the community about these matters.
I know full well that it will be said that a number of these Bills were flagged in the budget. Let me make the point strongly: that does not matter. You can say that you are going to do all sorts of things. The important time is when the Bill comes into this parliament and when it is finally passed. That is the important thing about laws. To say that you are going to do certain things is not the point; it is when it finally happens. People were not given that opportunity. The sooner we agree to do something about that, the better. There are a whole series of Bills that are going to be rushed through this week. It is simply not okay.
So, as to this Bill that we have before us, let me say that people in Canberra are not happy about paying this tax; make no mistake. If there is any suggestion that it is favourably received by people in Canberra, I would like someone to make a list of those people. I think Ms Follett made the point very well indeed. Who is it that receives it well?
Mr Humphries: What tax is?
MR STEVENSON: It is a good point. I think most people will agree that taxes are necessary, but they are not as necessary as politicians would like to think.
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (8.28), in reply: Mr Speaker, with the exception of Mr Stevenson, whose points I have taken on notice, I welcome the support offered by the other members of this Assembly for this increase in FID tax. I also particularly welcome the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition in relation to the explanatory memorandum that was presented when this Bill was introduced into the Assembly on Tuesday. It is nice to know that we are scoring some Brownie points there in that the memorandum is in plain English and easily understood.
Ms Follett made a number of good points in her debate on this particular Bill. As I said, it must be stressed, from the outset, that it is pleasing to see that the Labor
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