Page 5845 - Week 18 - Tuesday, 10 December 1991
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The timing of the commencement is unfortunate in that it coincides with a period of maximum cost to members who are seeking re-election to the Assembly at the February election and the subsequent excessive period of no income during the counting of the vote, which, as we are all aware, will be protracted over several months. To overcome the likely hardship to some members, I believe that the amendments that are proposed will allow those members who wish to defer payment until a more appropriate time to do so. Some members may be stressed to find the funds during this period of major cost to them, that is, the election campaign and other associated activities.
Ms Maher: And Christmas.
MR PROWSE: Christmas comes every year. The point is that this is a very intense period of expenditure for some members, and for them to have to go out and borrow funds for a period is inappropriate and may deter people from taking up a superannuation scheme which I believe is an entitlement and a right. It would be socially just for us to put in the words I have suggested.
Speaking to the amendment to clause 14, which seeks to insert after "section" the words "or within such further period as the Board in writing allows", in that circumstance we are referring to the entitlements of former members. At this time that applies only to our ex-member, Mr Whalan; but who knows what events may occur between now and tomorrow morning, or what could happen with the promulgation of this Act. There is always the possibility of delay. Even though it is of minimal effect to members, it is a protection and it is a continuation of the same ideas that are presented in the clause 13 amendment. On that basis I commend my amendments to members.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (9.51): The Government will be opposing Mr Prowse's amendments. We do so because we believe that they are totally unreasonable. As it stands, the Bill allows members 60 days to come up with what, in effect, is a back-pay on their contribution to this superannuation scheme. The point that ought to be made, first of all, is that they do not have to do it. Members may join and pay no back-pay if they want to. Indeed, that is what some members have indicated they will be doing. If they wish to pay the back-pay, they have 60 days to do so. There is no compulsion.
I think it is bizarre - that is the word that occurs to me - to suggest that the legislation ought to be altered purely to assist members with their personal financial arrangements because, as Mr Prowse suggests, there is an election coming up, a period when members may have higher than usual expenses, and also because it is Christmas. Legislation is legislation, and it is simply not good enough for a law passed in this Assembly to reflect that kind of thinking.
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