Page 472 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 1991
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MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General and Minister for Housing and Community Services) (10.53): I thank members for their comments to date. They have not advanced the debate much. Mr Speaker, let us traverse the history of this Bill. It was introduced by Mr Connolly and, in prefacing his remarks on 12 September 1990, he said, "We in opposition have limited resources". He was referring, of course, to the fact that - and this is from page 3106 of Hansard:
This Bill does not purport to be the greatest Bill ever introduced.
I think we should thank Mr Connolly for his frankness and defensiveness, because I doubt that anyone has ever introduced a Bill on such a defensive note, to my recollection. But, of course, Mr Connolly knows that whole slabs of his Bill are word perfect from the Landlord and Tenant (Rental Bonds) Act 1977 of the New South Wales Parliament. Mr Speaker, it is a Bill that dates from 1977 and, just having a quick perusal of it, in Labor's Bill, clauses 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 - it goes on and on - reflect the New South Wales legislation.
Mr Speaker, there is a good argument for consistency, given our geographical position and the proximity of many of our services; but, if the Labor Party was really interested in protecting tenants and was doing this for reasons other than the stunt which it has put on, Mr Connolly would know that the original New South Wales Bill, which is the one that he seems to have worked off, did not provide for interest to be paid to tenants. Since that time the New South Wales Bill has been amended, and it does so provide. But the Labor Bill before us now does not pick up that amendment.
Mr Connolly: We do not think that is an appropriate amendment. Nor does your proposal.
MR COLLAERY: So, it is even out of date in its mimicry, Mr Speaker. It is even a poor copy.
Mr Connolly: Oh, what a silly point.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Connolly is very sensitive on this issue. It is a very relevant point, because we on this side believe that ultimately interest should flow to those who put the money in the account, and I will come to that in a minute.
Mr Speaker, let me say for the record that the Alliance Cabinet agreed on 3 September last year to put this legislation through. That is when the Government's decision was taken, on 3 September. The principal part of the New South Wales Labor Bill before us is that they will establish a board to undertake joint investments. I will read into the record a section of the Bill proposed from New South Wales Labor and that says, "Joint venture powers" at section 9:
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