Page 3304 - Week 11 - Thursday, 12 September 1991
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As Mr Berry said in foreshadowing the amendments, the Labor Government believes that this is just a stunt by the Residents Rally, and this will put you to the test. If this Assembly is fair dinkum about wanting an inquiry into alcohol and liquor, it will vote for these amendments and take on the inquiry. The proper procedure for a parliamentary initiated inquiry is a parliamentary committee. Inquiries and royal commissions are there for the Executive to refer matters to.
Members know that it is lawful for the Government to ignore a resolution of this parliament calling for an inquiry, and we think we can smell a set-up. We think you are not fair dinkum about wanting an inquiry; you want to grandstand and you are quite happy for us to ignore it.
Ms Maher: Rubbish!
MR CONNOLLY: If you really want an inquiry, Ms Maher, you can have one. The parliament can have an inquiry. We are happy for you to have an inquiry, but we are not happy for you to grandstand. It is absurd. You are going to inquire into planning procedures. We have planning legislation coming up. You are going to inquire into social behaviour, human relationships. This could be the royal commission to end all royal commissions; it could last for 20 years.
This has been thought up by Mr Collaery, as Mr Berry noted, in response to a bit of publicity in the newspaper this morning because a clever Canberra Times reporter noted a throwaway line in a GALA report. We suspect that this is a stunt; but, if you are fair dinkum, if you really want an inquiry - particularly Ms Maher, as she is the chair of this committee - here is your opportunity. You can have an inquiry if you really want it. If this Assembly rejects the amendment to refer this to an Assembly committee, we will know, and the community will know, that you are not fair dinkum about this issue, that you are grandstanding and engaging in a stunt.
So, there it is. It is on the table; it is before the Assembly. If the Assembly wants an inquiry into alcohol and its effects, the Assembly can have one through the proper procedures. If, however, you reject this, we will know that you are onto a stunt.
MR STEVENSON (5.26): I wish to speak to the amendments. If there is an inquiry that does not involve the new parliament, there may be a problem with the new parliament having no ownership of that inquiry. The extension suggested by Mr Humphries, to the end of February, would not extend it far enough; December, January and February are the worst times for any inquiry to operate. It would need to go to at least the end of April, if such a thing is going to happen.
Mr Jensen: Why do you say that?
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