Page 1087 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 23 June 1992
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Unlike perhaps some other members, I do not believe that all legislation, even short legislation, needs to be held over. I think it is possible to pass quite rapidly some of the shorter legislation. I would, I suppose, go along with Ms Szuty's view, even on the termination of pregnancy legislation, which after all is a short piece of legislation, if I thought that it had been introduced at this time for that reason. I do not believe that it is being brought on today for that reason. The purpose of passing the termination of pregnancy legislation today is that we then go for a nice long recess and it is the Government's hope that many in the electorate will have forgotten it by the time we resume in August.
However, at the same time, I must support the views of Mr Moore and Ms Szuty in relation to the animal welfare legislation. This is not something that can be easily looked at, even by people with the resources of the Liberal Party, as opposed to these Independents, in a short space of time. It is therefore right and proper that that matter should be deferred for more serious consideration. We in the Liberal Party have the advantage of party policy which we are never afraid to put forward in election campaigns, unlike the Government.
Mr De Domenico: Other parties tend to copy it and adopt it from time to time.
MR CORNWELL: Indeed, they do. Unlike the Government, we are quite happy to put forward our pieces of legislation and to let the electorate know of them before they vote. We do not get the election out of the way and then pull a few rabbits out of the hat. I appreciate the difficulty that the Independents face, but I have some sympathy with Mr Berry's comment that that is their choice. They have elected to be Independents. If they wish to cover the waterfront on all legislation, they are just going to have to work a bit harder. Otherwise they will have to be selective. Mr Moore is nodding agreement.
Nevertheless, I do not believe that any of us here can support the way the Government has been handling its legislation; that is, by introducing far too much far too late, and expecting this Assembly to agree to it unquestioningly in a short time. In fact, I go one step further and say that some of this legislation should have been anticipated anyway. What about the essential services legislation? We all knew that winter was coming. Why do you suddenly bring this on and expect us to debate it with speed? I can understand that there are people out there who are cold, and we wish to assist them; but it could have been done a month ago, Mr Berry. We all knew that winter was coming. Why was it not anticipated? You really should go and talk to some of your officers, I suggest, and make sure that this type of thing is not repeated next year.
It is not a satisfactory arrangement for the electorate, and it certainly is not a satisfactory arrangement for the majority of their elected representatives. By that I am speaking of the nine members of this Assembly who do not represent the Government - the majority. They do wish to consult with people out there in the community. Even the Liberal Party does not have a policy on every item that comes before this Assembly. Of course, in the case of the Independents, they have even greater problems.
I urge you to consider the points that have been made today. I believe that they are made quite validly and fairly. I would also urge members to consider very carefully Mr Stevenson's proposal, as a private member's Bill tomorrow morning, on this 60-day rule.
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