Page 3602 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 8 December 1992
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Members of the committee and I went out of our way to ensure that Ms Szuty had every opportunity to have her dissenting report included as part of the report of the committee through the procedure which she agreed to. We have not tried to deny Ms Szuty, nor did we give her only 15 minutes to prepare a dissenting report. We said to Ms Szuty, "We will ensure that you have the opportunity, by leave of the Assembly, to table your report and have it included as part of the committee's report". To suggest that we gave her 15 minutes to prepare a report or in any way attempted to stop her from putting in her dissenting report is an absolute outrage and an untruth.
MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (4.25): It is, I think, rare that Mr Lamont and I are agreed on something, but in this matter we are. I totally endorse Mr Lamont's statement in connection with the extent to which the committee discussed Ms Szuty's dissatisfaction with this report. That dissatisfaction related only to the West Belconnen development. We jointly discussed the manner in which she might put forward her dissenting report. In fact, when I saw the way in which the presentation of this report was set down on the daily program today, I thought that that was indeed an acknowledgment of the fact that we agreed, as a committee with Ms Szuty present, that she would be given every opportunity to present her dissenting report and have it incorporated as a part of the report.
I find it quite mystifying that she now claims that she was in some way disadvantaged; that the committee in some way acted other than in accordance with the way in which we agreed to act; and that she has not been given every opportunity to say what she wanted to say and do what she wanted to do. I take exception personally to any suggestion that I have in some way infringed Ms Szuty's rights or resiled from an agreement that I gave to her as a member of the committee. I think it is incomprehensible that she should attempt to do this. I doubt whether any other member of the committee - and I think I can anticipate this - would agree that Ms Szuty has a leg to stand on in this matter. She has none whatsoever, and I find her remarks quite offensive.
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I ask for leave of the Assembly to move a motion in relation to report No. 8 of the - - -
Mr Moore: On a point of order, Madam Speaker - - -
MR LAMONT: It is a procedural motion to allow for the inclusion of Ms Szuty's dissenting report as part of the report.
Mr Moore: Some of us want to speak to the motion before the Chair.
MADAM SPEAKER: There is a motion before us still, Mr Lamont.
MR LAMONT: I apologise.
MR MOORE (4.27): Madam Speaker, I sit here with some bemusement. It is hardly surprising that on this issue the members of the Liberal Party agree with the members of the Labor Party and are prepared to isolate Ms Szuty. The question that has to be raised is: What was the big rush?
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