Page 413 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 1993
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Allotment of Time
Motion (by Mr Berry) proposed:
That the following times be allotted for consideration of the Occupational Health and Safety (Repeal) Bill 1993:
(1) for the agreement in principle stage - until 12 noon this day;
(2) for the remaining stages - until 12.15 p.m. this day.
MR STEVENSON (11.21): I wish to speak on this matter. I do not think there should be so little time allowed for debate on this Bill. For a start, there is the principle of forcing the Bill to be debated today, before members have had an opportunity to read it, to take consultation.
Mr Moore: One line, Dennis. I showed it to you. You have read it.
MR STEVENSON: I well understand that the Bill is a brief Bill, but I made the point deliberately to indicate that that is how little time there is. I have no personal doubt - it is only an assumption but it is well supported by experience - that there are members in this Assembly who have not read the Bill. Let everybody stand up and say, "Yes, I have read it". I bet we will miss a few hands. Mr Wood, did I hear your - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, please address your remarks in my direction.
MR STEVENSON: Yes; I am sorry, Madam Speaker. I did not hear Mr Wood say it. I think we have one.
Mr Wood: You must assume nothing, Mr Stevenson.
MR STEVENSON: I think that is confirmation that we have one, which is why I made the point. I think there are members of this Assembly who have not read the Bill. I admire Mr Wood for not being prepared to say that he had when he had not. I give the guy credit for courage.
Mr Wood: I am a speed reader, Mr Stevenson.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Wood can say that and make 15 other comments. All it does is reinforce our understanding that he had not read the Bill. That really highlights the point, even though it is only one line. There has not been time. How do we know? He may not have known that it was going to be forced through for debate. He may have thought, like any reasonable person, that when a Bill is to be debated there is going to be some time allowed, even though someone may have thought it was only seven days, which is fairly consistent in this Assembly. I think that would have been a reasonable assumption.
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