Page 4243 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 October 1991
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These issues should have been pointed up to the Attorney and the speech of Mr Justice Phillips should have been made available to him. I am quite sure that he has not seen it, and it was a public speech. I am making one of those rare forays into gently upbraiding the nature of advice that Ministers receive, because it is apparent to me that the Attorney has been flying, literally - although he is not unused to it - by the seat of his pinstripes.
MR MOORE (11.43): I find it ironic that Mr Collaery, who is very quick to point the finger at other people for upbraiding public servants, said, if I heard his words correctly, something like "this rare occasion to gently upbraid". In fact, what he really means is that he is going to have a shot at the public servants. I find it ironic that only a week or so ago Mr Collaery put out a press release saying how terrible I was for doing the same thing.
Apart from that, this particular amendment, I think, is a very sensible amendment and I congratulate Mr Collaery for moving it. Quite clearly, it is appropriate that what goes on in the ACT is the prerogative and the responsibility of members of this Assembly. I do not think we can just accept or ignore this amendment that has been moved by Mr Collaery. I think we have a responsibility to take this amendment on board and to accept our responsibility in dealing with the National Crime Authority. It is our responsibility as elected members and it is most important that we wear that responsibility very carefully.
One of the most satisfying things about working in this Legislative Assembly over the last two-and-a-bit years has been the work within the committees. I think most of us would agree that that has been a very positive aspect. It is recognised by the media and by the public as being probably the most positive aspect of this Assembly. With very few exceptions, those committees have acted very responsibly. We have had to work together very closely, with people of very different political persuasions and with very different ideas.
I remember one of my early experiences when working with Mr Humphries as chair of the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment. When Mr Humphries was chair of that committee I must say that I had real doubts about whether I would be able to work with him because of some of the ideas that I had heard him express. But the reality was that he proved to be a very successful chair of that committee. I think Mr Wood would agree. He was on that committee as well. Mr Humphries was open-minded and was prepared to discuss matters carefully and to work within the committee structure. By and large, that has been my experience with all members in this Assembly when working in the committees, and that encourages me to support this particular amendment that Mr Collaery has put.
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