Page 3926 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 October 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I realise that there are, in effect, two schemes, Mr Stevenson. I do not believe that that represents a lack of equity or a discrimination; I think it is just a recognition that in trying to address this problem we had to strike a balance between the interests of existing business people and the interests of the Territory.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Speaker, could I ask a supplementary question, please. Thank you very much indeed for the explanation. Is there any attempt, or future proposal, to make them both the same?
MS FOLLETT: I do not have such a proposal under consideration, Mr Speaker.
Supreme Court
MR COLLAERY: My question is directed to Mr Connolly in his role as Attorney-General. I ask the Attorney whether he could outline briefly, to the extent which is proper, the steps he is taking to ensure a smooth transition and handing over of the Supreme Court to this jurisdiction from, presumably, the last date that is statutorily possible, that apparently being a policy of the current Government.
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Speaker, the incoming Labor Government inherited a position where there were certain steps under way and developments occurring to bring forward the date of the transfer of the Supreme Court to 1 January. We have taken the view that that is not necessary or desirable. The sitting times this year were short; we were a government coming in in a minority situation. The statute, the constitution of the ACT in effect, provides that that transfer will occur on 1 July. That date will follow a substantial sitting period of an incoming, stable and, we are confident, Labor government; and we believed that there was no need to pull forward that process.
There are ongoing negotiations with the Commonwealth Government as to the form of Commonwealth legislation that may be necessary and such transitional provisions as the Commonwealth may see appropriate for the position of existing judges. But we believe that it is unnecessary to lock into a position on that in the life of this Assembly.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. I note the Minister's answer. Further to his response, and with reference to the indications in the budget papers available to us that the Government is continuing with design assessments for a proposed legal precinct, I ask whether the Minister is in fact setting the groundwork to ensure that, if the court is not to come over and if his
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .