Page 5075 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The other position the Labor Government has maintained throughout is that it will not seek to interfere in the operational discretion, under the Act and under the agreement this gentleman negotiated with the Commonwealth, which provides that we cannot direct the police on operational matters. It will be a sad day when governments intervene on police operational matters. That is the path of Queensland.
I recall Mr Collaery bleating some weeks ago about getting the police to investigate some wild accusation against a member of the first Labor Government. This is the man who likes to use the police for political purposes when he can get away with it. It is improper. Throughout, we have taken the entirely proper approach of saying that we do not interfere in operational matters. If there are complaints about operational matters there are mechanisms to deal with them.
Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Mr Stevenson proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:
That Bills are passed through the Assembly in such short time as to restrict or prevent fair democratic process, as evidenced by the fact that in the next 23 days there are approximately 60 Bills to be considered, including 30 Bills yet to be introduced.
MR STEVENSON (3.03): This Assembly is here supposedly to represent the people of Canberra. Leaving aside the fact of its being unconstitutional, how on earth is it able to represent the will of the people of Canberra and allow Canberrans the democratic right to know what is happening if Bills are ramrodded through this Assembly so fast that not even the members of the Assembly have time to read them?
The suggestion that we are going to pass another 60 or so Bills before Christmas is absolutely appalling. One wonders whether the Assembly would be prepared to move that extra sitting days be included, perhaps up to Christmas Eve. Who knows? We might pass No. 60 or whatever it is at 11 o'clock on the night before Christmas Day.
Ms Follett: I will be here.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .