Page 3712 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 9 December 1992
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Legislative Program
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Attorney-General. I refer the Minister to the Government's woeful performance in meeting its legislative program for the budget sitting. Can the Minister tell us what the problem is? Is it because the various departments are slow in their preparation of drafting instructions?
Mr Lamont: Madam Speaker - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Lamont, do you have a point of order?
Mr Lamont: Madam Speaker, this quite clearly pre-empts a matter on the notice paper this day, which is an MPI.
MR HUMPHRIES: It is asking a question for the purposes of the debate on the notice paper.
MADAM SPEAKER: No, Mr Lamont, it is not on the notice paper.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask the Minister what the problem is. Is it because the various departments are slow in their preparation of drafting instructions? Is it because of insufficient drafting resources in the office of the Parliamentary Counsel? Or is it simply because the Government is too absorbed with internal infighting and discord to get on with the job?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I note that this is premised on an alleged failure to deliver on the legislative program. As I look through my first priority programs I see the Adoption Bill. Need I say more? These people - this joke opposite - get up today and seek to criticise us for failing to deliver on the legislative program, when last night they thumbed their noses at the community and sent the Adoption Bill off to a committee. What a pathetic point!
Our legislative program is demonstrated best by the volume of documents on the shelves in front of us there - the number of Acts brought into this chamber and passed by this active, reformist Labor Government. Madam Speaker, the report of the agency you administer - the annual report of this Assembly, which you tabled recently in this place - demonstrated, and I think my colleague Mr Berry referred to these figures, that the number of Bills that have been brought in and passed by this Assembly in the 12 months we have been in office worked out at double the work rate of the period when you lot were in office. I note again on the legislative program that the Food Bill was a first priority. Mr Berry has delivered on that, but year after year you had it on your priority list and did nothing. Madam Speaker, they are a joke.
Mr Humphries: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: The Minister is avoiding the question. The question asked about this budget session - not last year, not any other government's program, but this budget session.
MR CONNOLLY: I consider that I have answered the question, Madam Speaker.
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