Page 397 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 23 February 1993
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Madam Speaker, this amendments was referred to in the course of the earlier debate. I think it mentions "the Board" 23 times and has a few "it"s and one "he or she". The changes all refer to the transfer of authority in relation to the Poisons and Drugs (Amendment) Act, as is explained by the explanatory memorandum. So the amendments to the schedule to the Health (Consequential Provisions) Act 1993 change the references to the Board of Health in the Poisons and Drugs (Amendment) Act to references to the Minister. This is consistent with the change from administration of health services by the Board of Health to administration by the Department of Health. So whilst bulky at first glance, it is a quite simple amendment.
It is a great pity that the Liberals have not taken the time to be here. I understand their embarrassment about the matter. I think Mr Kaine is on the record as saying that the Minister should take responsibility for these matters. He has indicated clearly that he is in support, or so it would seem, of this transfer, though I think I have seen Mrs Carnell in the negative. That might explain why they are not here. But there it is. I commend the amendment to the Assembly.
MR MOORE (8.59): Madam Speaker, I have heard on the grapevine this evening that the Liberals are upstairs having a leadership challenge and dealing with that. To remain relevant, the issue raised by Mr Berry has put such a major division in the party - and you will note that there are no interjections to the contrary - that I think that there may well be a major leadership struggle going on at the moment with the Liberals. I would not be surprised in a short while to have the Liberals come down here and declare that Mr De Domenico is the new Leader of the Opposition. Madam Speaker, I mentioned these very simple sets of amendments in the in-principle debate. Unlike Mr Berry's suggestion, that in fact it was a statement in principle as far as the Liberals were concerned, I understand that it was the reading of these amendments that caused difficulty within the party and caused such dissension. The party was not able to be down here because they had other priorities. I support the amendments.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion (by Mr Berry) agreed to:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Assembly adjourned at 9.01 pm
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