Page 4811 - Week 16 - Thursday, 29 November 1990
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Mrs Grassby: The way you change parties and ideas, I would rather have Mr Connolly and my other three compatriots any day.
MR DUBY: Listen to it, will you? I think that is about the best that we can say for that.
Mrs Grassby: That is about the best that you can say for anything, Mr Duby.
MR DUBY: Mrs Grassby, please! Both the Attorney-General and I have effectively demolished the arguments about immunity versus indemnity. I can even see a hint of resignation in Mr Connolly's face on this matter, so I will not labour that point.
The only other thing on which I would like to comment is the statements made by Mr Stevenson primarily about lack of consultation. I answered these questions earlier in the debate when I was answering some queries raised by Mr Moore. But I noted that Mr Stevenson was not present in the Assembly when I answered those matters. I shall be brief and to the point.
The talk of lack of consultation is nonsense. This legislation has been talked about for something like two years, Mr Stevenson. It has been discussed at every meeting of the Bush Fire Council, except one, since September 1988. Officers of the Administration have had two meetings to discuss in detail with the council the provisions of the Bill. In September 1990 the executive committee of council agreed with the Bill, including indemnity versus immunity, and in October this year the council in toto agreed to the Bill, including indemnity versus immunity.
If, of a group of 12 people, a small minority is not prepared to accept it after two years of consultation, I think we can say that we have exhausted the consensus process. Mr Speaker, the proposed amendments put up by Mrs Grassby do not warrant support, and I know that the Assembly will reject them.
MR SPEAKER: Were you wishing to speak again to this, Mrs Grassby?
Mrs Grassby: No, thank you, Mr Speaker.
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