Page 2657 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
investment more than anywhere else. Whilst I accept - I do not want this to be misconstrued - that it is important to have a certain amount of investment in commercial property in order for us to have any commercial property in the first place, it ought not to be confused with the need for investment in productive activity.
With those few remarks, Madam Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying that I think that the Commercial and Tenancy Tribunal Bill and the code of practice are a major step forward in this area that the ACT has been trying to deal with for over 20 years.
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (5.48): Madam Speaker, owing to Ms Szuty's loss of voice, I move:
That leave be given for Ms Szuty to table her speech on this Bill and for the speech to be incorporated in Hansard.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Speech incorporated at Appendix 3.
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (5.48): Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to support this Bill in principle. It probably gives me more pleasure than anybody else in this Assembly, because I think I am the only member who is actually a tenant. Over the years since the first tenancy committee was set up in the ACT in 1974 I have been a part of most such committees. I have also been a member of CARTA and represented the pharmacists for many years. I actually appeared before the first Assembly committee on this subject, suggesting that there was a need for legislation such as this in the ACT. We still see, as we have in the last six months, people in the ACT having their rents increased by 100 per cent or 60 per cent - ridiculous amounts of money. And for what reason?
Mr Moore: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker, under standing order 156. I think it is important that we take care on any occasion when there may be some conflict of interest, as there may be in what Mrs Carnell drew to our attention. Under standing order 156 the Assembly can resolve that Mrs Carnell does not have a conflict of interest and so resolve the matter. If the Assembly believes that it is acceptable for Mrs Carnell to express her opinion on this Bill, the matter can be resolved simply by the Assembly resolving under standing order 156 that she be allowed to speak. I think that would be an effective way to deal with this situation.
Mr Humphries: On the point of order, Madam Speaker: Standing order 156 refers to a contract made by or on behalf of the Territory or a Territory authority. We are passing legislation, not making a contract. We have all had some conflict of the kind that Mrs Carnell is referring to. For example, we pass tax increases. We all have some vested interest in not having tax increases; but we pass them anyway. With respect, Mr Moore is drawing a pretty long bow.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .