Page 5281 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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It is a very important process, Mr Speaker, and it is something that should not be passed on the run. I seem to recall that Mr Berry - he is not listening; he is too busy chatting away there - has continually told us all night and all day how important this legislation is. So, I think that, rather than drop these complex amendments on the table and ask for immediate support within a period of 24 hours, it would be more appropriate for the Minister to give - as he has already indicated - his support for a longer term consideration of this proposal.
I welcome that suggestion by the Minister that he is prepared to examine this concept in a rational manner. I think that this requires consideration and consultation. I note that, in Mr Berry's comments during his debate on this matter, not once did he mention the degree or the nature of the consultation that he, in fact, had in developing this particular piece of legislation. I think that probably says volumes for it as well. I also wonder whether Mr Berry had a similar discussion with the group that Mr Humphries referred to in his previous remarks.
Mr Berry: Give me leave to speak again, and I will tell you about it.
MR JENSEN: I am sure, Mr Berry, that you will find other opportunities throughout the debate to speak of it. I welcome the concept behind what Mr Berry has proposed, and I also agree with the Minister in relation to the fact that this is a matter that should not be passed, but due consideration should be given to it.
MR MOORE (9.33): Mr Speaker, it is interesting to hear so many people making warm noises about Mr Berry's suggestion of such a council. It is such a positive thing. I can see that, with such a bipartisan approach, before long members of the Assembly will be jumping to get in together. They will be jumping together and they will think that this is such a great idea that it will be implemented before too long. It just seems that they do not want to include it in this legislation. Since everybody is feeling so warm about it, it would be logical to include it. But I see that that is not going to be the case.
So, I shall look forward to seeing the matter discussed early in the new session next year. No doubt Mr Berry will bring it up in private members' business, and we can amend our new legislation then. It seems such a shame that we are here tonight with the legislation out, yet we are going to be forced to waste private members' business in amending that legislation. I hope, considering the discussion that has gone on tonight and the general level of bipartisan agreement, that this matter will be a very brief thing in private members' business. I hope that we will actually get to a stage where this can be discussed on both sides of the house, and can, more or less as a formality, be brought through the house in private members' business.
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