Page 2307 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 15 September 1992
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MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (9.46): One of the great difficulties when people play political games with these sorts of things is the Bernard Collaery back-of-the-envelope amendments that are proposed off the cuff and quickly.
Mr De Domenico: Our Bill was in first, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: You can always tell the billygoats by the way they butt in. Essentially, what we have in front of us is some complex amendments - - -
Mr Humphries: You cannot understand it. That is why it is complex. It is too much for you. That is why it is complex.
MR BERRY: It is complex in the way that it will operate within the Act. This Government will act responsibly when it is dealing with amendments that come before the house. There will be no snap agreements to matters the Opposition has not chosen to take up with the Government by way of consultation. The Opposition complains about the Government and its consultation process, but is it a two-way street? Of course not. This amendment is intended to drag out the debate on this issue, and the Government will be opposing it.
Mr De Domenico: Why, when you just said that you have not had a chance to have a good look at it?
MR BERRY: If you want legislation to be agreed to by the Government, you ought to come and see the Government before you put forward a range of amendments that require considerable discussion and consideration before they can be implemented. Madam Speaker, this amendment will be opposed. The Opposition Leader could have taken the course of allowing the Government's Bill to be passed in the Assembly this evening.
Mr Kaine: Adjourn the debate until Thursday and you can have look at the amendments. I do not mind.
MR BERRY: You could withdraw it and then try it in private members business later on.
Mr Kaine: I have no intention of withdrawing it. I want you to be confronted with the issue which you will not confront.
MR BERRY: We do not have to worry about that. We confront issues, as you have noticed in the past, and do it fairly successfully. That is why we have no opposition. In any event, this amendment will be opposed in its current form. It cannot be considered in this form this evening because of the absence of any opportunity to closely consider it.
Mr Kaine: Do you not understand? It is a very simple amendment.
MR BERRY: I suppose it would be simple, coming from you. As I have said, the matter will be opposed.
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