Page 2329 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994

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All they say is that what they are doing allows that independence, and that is what we are talking about. It is proper that we do talk about that. It is unfortunate that we are moving through this matter immediately and that I have not had time to check on the DPP's decision as Mr Moore reports it.

MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (12.09): I move my revised amendment No. 1 circulated in my name which proposes amendments to Ms Follett's amendment No. 1. My amendment reads:

1. Omit paragraph (b), substitute the following paragraphs:

"(b) the Australian Capital Territory Totalizator Administration Board;

(d) the ACT Fire Brigade.".

Madam Speaker, my amendment allows ACTEW to stay under the definition of autonomous instrumentality but then adds the Australian Capital Territory Totalizator Administration Board, the Australian International Hotel School and the ACT Fire Brigade. I do that for very good reasons. We only have to look back at the speeches that Ms Follett made when she tabled the various pieces of this Bill. With regard to ACTTAB, the comment was that ACTTAB would be left out of the Bill until 1 January 1995 pending Professor Pearce's inquiry, which was current. Professor Pearce's inquiry is over. It has been over for a few weeks. It seemed no trouble whatsoever for the Government to change its position on the DPP and the Legal Aid Office in one day, but it seems that their position on ACTTAB still is unclear. Our view right now is that, because it has been such a difficult time for the people working for ACTTAB, for the staff and for the administration generally, their position should be clarified and they should be moved in under this particular provision at this stage.

I will be interested to hear - I am sure that Mr Lamont will be happy to tell us - what the Government's plans are for 1 January 1995, because Ms Follett did not actually say in her speech what she was going to do. She suggested that provisions would commence. She did not quite tell us what provisions. We will be very interested to find out where ACTTAB is to be put on 1 January 1995. We believe at this stage that it is very important that ACTTAB's position be well laid out. With regard to the Australian - - -

Mr Lamont: Yes. Is that why you spoke to Mr Downy last Thursday afternoon?

MRS CARNELL: I speak to anybody I like. I am sure that you spoke to him yesterday.

Mr Lamont: Last Thursday afternoon.

MRS CARNELL: After he put out the press release.

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