Page 2402 - Week 09 - Thursday, 17 September 1992
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The problem, Madam Speaker, is that, despite the presence of this impressive looking document, we have to ask ourselves whether we can actually believe what is in the document. This represents the Government's target for the 1992 budget sittings, for the period between August this year and December this year. We are coming up to halfway through the budget sittings. We have had four weeks of sittings. We have six weeks left, on my reckoning. I have to ask myself whether it is really possible for most of this program to be implemented.
Mr Moore: At the current rate.
MR HUMPHRIES: At the current rate, certainly. At the current rate, we have no hope of implementing it. If we see a great acceleration, we might see most of it happen; but even then I have my doubts. Let us take the first page - the first priority matters under the Chief Minister's portfolio. You would imagine that these matters would have a fairly high rate of success in government circles, since they come from the Chief Minister and they are her first priority.
Let me go through the matters on the list. The Mutual Recognition Bill - there is no sign of that. Amendment to Audit Act, no. Amendment to Business Franchise (Tobacco and Petroleum Products) Act, no. Amendment to Financial Institutions Duty Act, no. Amendment to Stamp Duties and Taxes Act 1987, no. Amendment to Payroll Tax Act, no. Amendment to Gaming Machine Act, no. Amendment to Taxation (Administration) Act, no. Amendment to Business Franchise ("X" Videos) Act, no. Amendment to Ambulance Service Levy Act, no. Amendment to Rates and Land Tax Act 1926 - yes, we have seen that Bill in the Assembly. In the second priority category - Public Accountability and Annual Management Reports Bill, no. We have, on my reckoning, 18 sitting days left in these sittings. I hope that only the next 12 of those are really available for the introduction of Bills which we expect to pass in these sittings. Other Bills may be introduced, in the last six sitting days; but I hope that we do not try to pass them in such a short period of time.
Madam Speaker, we are left with the impression that this is a public relations document, not a genuine attempt by the Government to indicate to the community that these issues will be dealt with in the budget sittings of the Assembly. The Deputy Chief Minister, in his tabling speech, acknowledged that in the autumn sittings only 41 of the 62 Bills listed in the first priority category were introduced into the Assembly. When you take into account second and third priority Bills, on my reckoning, well under half of the Bills that were in the autumn sittings program - - -
Mr Connolly: We are here for three years. We do not do it all in the first six months.
MR HUMPHRIES: Fine. The Attorney-General interjects, "We are here for three years". That is a terribly depressing thought; but, okay, you are there for three years. The fact of life is - - -
Mr Moore: How many days to go?
Mr De Domenico: Not necessarily with the portfolio he has now.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Moore says, "Not necessarily". I am greatly encouraged by that remark.
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