Page 386 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 23 February 1993
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Mr Connolly: You have convinced us all.
MR LAMONT: I have convinced everybody. Dennis? Some things in life will never change, Dennis, but I thank you for giving me the opportunity at least to attempt to convince you.
Madam Speaker, this Bill should be commended. I certainly hope that in the reporting of the proceedings of this evening not too much weight is given to the fact that the boys and girls from across the corridor have picked up their ball and gone home tonight, understanding that, indeed, that which they put into place, that which they have rent asunder, is now being fixed by this Government.
MR STEVENSON (8.15): First of all, I might say to Mr Lamont that I do not mind at all being called Dennis; I have been called a lot worse things. I think Mr Lamont said that it was appropriate that this Bill be passed this week. I think it perhaps would be more appropriate if the Bill were passed in June, towards the end of the year, to come into force at the start of the new financial year. That would probably be more appropriate, although there would be very few Canberrans that have a view one way or the other. Most of them know nothing about it because of the entirely inappropriate manner in which the Bill is being passed this week instead of being allowed to sit on the table at least until the next session.
As the Liberal members are not here, there has to be someone here to call for a division. I thought I would volunteer. I thought it was interesting that the Liberal members departed. They obviously did that to make a protest. It is unfortunate that they feel that that is the only way they can make a decent protest. I understand that this is often the same plight of Canberrans with what happens in this Legislative Assembly where they get no say in the matter either. At least the Liberal Party and Michael and Helen and I - pardon the earlier names - get something on our table to say that these Bills are going to be debated in this parliament. It is a lot better than most people get in Canberra.
As I said, most of them have not the faintest clue what we are doing in here. When Mr Berry says occasionally that I am not here, I am certainly out there doing my best - and it is not easy - to let people know what is happening. So one could debate the Bill but, more importantly, the Bill should not be debated today. It is a part of the constitution of the Abolish Self Government Coalition that, if Bills are presented when there is not sufficient time for community consultation, either I will move to adjourn - we tried that this afternoon; it did not work - or I will vote against the Bill. That is, of course, what I will do tonight. Mr Berry or Mr Lamont said something about not being able to persuade me. I will never be persuaded that we should pass Bills before Canberrans have a chance to have a say on them - and a genuine one.
MR MOORE (8.19): Madam Speaker, I think that the importance of this Bill can be demonstrated by reference to what happens at the Estimates Committee. It was not the board that appeared before the Estimates Committee but the Minister and the senior bureaucrats. It was not the board that explained to the Estimates Committee and to members of this Assembly the financial ramifications of the decisions made. It was not the board which had to justify the decisions that they were making. It was not the board that was accountable.
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