Page 256 - Week 01 - Thursday, 24 February 1994
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In concluding, Madam Speaker, I would like to say that I think the process of consideration of this legislation has been a good one. There has been wide community discussion and debate about the provisions in it and I believe that it is worthy of support by this Assembly. I am also happy to support Mr Humphries's amendment, which he has circulated in the chamber. It relates to section 57D and compulsory retirement. I understand that he has discussed this amendment with the Government and that the Government has agreed to accept it. I would like to indicate that I will be supporting it also.
MR DE DOMENICO (12.07): I will be very brief. I want to ask the Minister a couple of questions he might address in his closing remarks.
Mr Berry: That is later on today, mate.
MR DE DOMENICO: Once again, Mr Berry should butt out. Minister, I would like to take on board what Mr Humphries had to say. Perhaps you could explain how this will work in an establishment like McDonald's or other places that do hire young people part time, the various supermarkets around the place, pizza shops and what have you. Secondly, is it not a rule within the Australian Labor Party that the compulsory retiring age is, I think, 65 years? Quite obviously, you will be moving to - - -
Mrs Grassby: Not in the ACT.
Mr Connolly: Mrs Grassby advises me that it is not in the ACT.
Mr Kaine: What about Federal members?
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Connolly, perhaps you might look at the Federal rules, or all the other rules for those Federal members who happen to reside in the ACT. Quite obviously, if the Government is going to be consistent, it will be making sure that its own rules are not in breach of this piece of legislation.
MR MOORE (12.08): Madam Speaker, I think the Bill has been dealt with very well to this stage by Mr Humphries and Ms Szuty. That reflects the very positive approach of the Assembly to the work done by the Government by, firstly, putting out the discussion paper and then following it up with this Bill. The question that I would like Mr Connolly to consider, in the same spirit that Mr De Domenico asked, relates to the ACT public service. With our new public service coming on line shortly, it would seem to me that the spirit of this legislation which we are demanding other people to put on line should also apply to us. We should start looking now at what we are doing in our backyard.
A number of people have approached me - I have written to the Chief Minister on a number of occasions with representations on their behalf - as they feel that they are going to be forced into early retirement because they happen to be caught in this transition period between when the ACT gets its own legislation and when we get our own public service. It is possible under current public service regulations for somebody's retirement age to be extended when it is in the interests of the department. It would seem to me that it is in the interests of the department to retain morale, and it is in the interests of the department to stick with Government policy on such issues. Therefore, through you, Madam Speaker, I would like the Minister to respond and to say how he is going
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