Page 227 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

MS SZUTY (5.49), in reply: In closing this debate, I would like to acknowledge what the Minister has said about community consultation on this issue. He also mentioned Labor's election commitment in 1992, the public interest in the issue in articles in the Canberra Times, meetings held with various peak industry groups, a discussion paper that was issued and legislation tabled in December 1993. That is all very commendable; but, when we go to the stage of looking at which enclosed public places we will make smoke free and which will have certain conditions and exemptions applied to them and what regulations will be drawn up, we are talking about very specific instances.

A great range of facilities, institutions and buildings in the ACT will be potentially affected. When I read through the list of facilities that ACT Health had targeted for a response on this legislation, I imagined that there would have been hundreds of buildings and facilities covered by that advertisement. If I were in the Minister's position, I would be quite concerned about receiving only 10 responses. That represents a fairly low level of community consultation on the issue. I do not agree with Mr Berry's assessment that there has been full community discussion and debate on this issue. I am sure that the Conservation, Heritage and Environment Committee, chaired by Mr Moore, will explore the issues very thoroughly and, as the Minister expects, come back with better legislation for this Assembly.

Question put:

That the motion (Ms Szuty's) be agreed to.

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 9 NOES, 8

Mrs Carnell Mr Berry

Mr Cornwell Mr Connolly

Mr De Domenico Ms Ellis

Mr Humphries Ms Follett

Mr Kaine Mrs Grassby

Mr Moore Mr Lamont

Mr Stevenson Ms McRae

Ms Szuty Mr Wood

Mr Westende

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .