Page 2315 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994
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Members interjected.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! The question is that the debate be adjourned, not the Assembly. Let us get the question right and let us have a bit of order.
MR HUMPHRIES: Precisely, Madam Speaker. That is why I am not taking my full 10 minutes in the debate on the motion that this matter be adjourned. It is my view that this Bill will pass today. It has the support of Mr Moore. Obviously it will pass. It is obvious that our position has been, from the outset - - -
Mr Berry: Tell us how you opposed the motion to consider it today.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry failed to read the other pages of the debate. He quoted the last page but failed to refer to the fact that we had advised him that we were opposed to the motion. He failed to read the pages and pages of criticism preceding those words he quoted.
Mr Berry: But you did not oppose the motion. Why did you not debate the issue?
MR HUMPHRIES: We did vote against it, as it happens.
Mr Berry: You did not debate it and there was no vote.
MR HUMPHRIES: We had had the debate. We were opposed to this matter coming forward at this stage because we felt that there had not been sufficient debate on the subject. There were too many loose ends that were not tied up. I listed in my speech, for example, the many unresolved matters to do with this debate and the fact that there were countless organisations and issues which had yet to be satisfied in respect of this debate. Mr Berry knows that.
Mr Berry: But you supported the motion.
MR HUMPHRIES: We did not support the motion.
Mr Berry: You did support the motion. No vote was taken. There was no debate.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry's mind, obviously, has been drawn off to other things in the last few days. Obviously, he is a bit rattled by the outcome of the VITAB affair and has forgotten that he was advised on Thursday of last week that the Opposition opposed that motion.
Madam Speaker, we stand by the view that this matter should not be dealt with today. The most important reason for not dealing with it today is that an essential element of this whole arrangement - namely, mobility for public servants in the ACT service between here and the Commonwealth Public Service - has not been resolved. It is an extremely important issue. Do not take my word for it; take the word of those unions which have made fierce representations to this stonewalling Government over there.
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