Page 2163 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994
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I see Mr Stevenson sitting over there waving his hand up and down as if to say, "I am not quite sure of that". Mr Stevenson, it is interesting to note the effect of the current bans. The current bans have been put in place by the PSU - and only the PSU - arising out of a meeting which was held outside this chamber at 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. The 50 people from the PSU who attended that meeting in the foyer of the Assembly decided to put some bans on. They have bans on revenue collection. They have bans in some of the parking areas where they have members. They have some bans in one or two ministerial liaison areas or response areas, but that is okay. All that really means is that responses to Mr Cornwell's 27,000 questions on notice will be somewhat delayed. Maybe at some stage I will have to use that as the reason why I have not been able to respond within 30 days, but I will certainly attempt to not let that affect the responses to Mr Cornwell's questions.
What in fact is the effect of this? I suggest to you that a great deal of the reason for the PSU's consternation about this change is not necessarily a legitimate desire to see tier 1 and tier 2 provisions apply under Part IV of the Act. There may be other reasons. I am not going to speculate here tonight about what they may be. That is up to the PSU to address internally. I put it to you quite succinctly that, if there were within the ranks of the clerical and administrative structure in the ACT substantial consternation about the progress to a separate service on 1 July, there would be massive disruption to the ACT Government. That simply is not the case because quite simply - - -
Mrs Carnell: Have they not decided not to send out rates notices?
MR LAMONT: Mrs Carnell, I am glad to see that you have now decided to wake up and pay attention. I understand that your attention span is very short, but if you listen to me and to Mr Kaine we might be able to get through to you on this one.
Mr Humphries: Oh, dear!
MR LAMONT: It needs to be said because I am sick and tired of the one-page logic, the one-page mentality. Mrs Carnell cannot get beyond that; 360 little squiggles on a piece of paper is about the end of it. Mrs Carnell, there is still some irritation, but I emphasise again that it is not with us. The concerns that employees have are with the Commonwealth. We have said that we agree with what the PSU, the other unions and the Trades and Labour Council are trying to achieve in mobility rights. We are prepared to confer a right which currently does not exist, and we gained the agreement of the Commonwealth for that to occur. We, the Government, the employer, got the Federal Government to agree to extend that mobility right on merit for 14,000 of our employees who currently do not enjoy it. That is something of which we should be rightfully proud and something for which the unions have already acknowledged their gratitude.
We have said that we are in a position to proceed to a new service on 1 July. We are prepared to proceed to a separate service through the process outlined by Ms Szuty - that is, by returning here next Wednesday. On Monday there will be a discussion about where the amendments fit into the scheme of things and how we should proceed on Wednesday when we come back for a formal sitting of this Assembly.
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