Page 4451 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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In fact, what we have done in the last three years, and in particular over the last 16 months, is to go through a comprehensive testing process and investigation, in partnership with our community, to devise and deliver to the people of the ACT a comprehensive waste and recycling collection system which is the envy of every other city in this country. That is what has commenced on this day.
It is appropriate, when it is the most significant and radical change to waste management and garbage collection systems in this Territory, for the Chief Minister to advise the population that that is the case and for the information booklet provided by the contractors and their advertisers to be provided to each household in Canberra. I believe that that is appropriate. What should happen is that you should hang your head in shame. What you are trying to do is to take the gloss off this magnificent, well thought out, great innovation in the ACT. The answer should be: Vote Labor for gloss; vote Liberal for dross.
Cannabis Law Reform
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Attorney-General. Could the Attorney-General inform the Assembly of the process that he went through with the Australian Federal Police when he proposed to decriminalise the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis?
MR CONNOLLY: The process of the on-the-spot fines was a process that involved a lot of consultation within the Assembly. Mr Moore put the idea forward first. The Government worked very closely with Mr Moore. We modified his proposal somewhat, because we thought it went too far. In that process, we consulted broadly within the ACT Government. We went to the Australian Federal Police and sought their views on the practicality of the scheme. There was then a quite long process. Mr Moore was critical of it, saying that it was too long. We eventually got the forms prepared, in a process of sensibly changing cannabis laws, as opposed to a sudden, slapdash process of appearing on television on the evening news and saying, "I am sorry; I did not talk to the police about it, as a piece of law reform".
Mr Moore: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: Standing order 113A states that questions without notice shall not be concluded until all non-Executive members rising have asked at least one question. I would have thought that it would be appropriate to give members the opportunity to ask one question before you allowed a member to ask a second question.
MADAM SPEAKER: It is a perfectly reasonable point of order, Mr Moore; but Ms Ellis was the only one standing.
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, in that case, the Government went through a long and detailed process of consultation and, working in a collegiate manner with the Assembly, brought out a sensible piece of law reform. I cannot reflect on votes of the house, but I would ask members to reflect on what the president of the Australian Federal Police Association has said, both last night and this morning - - -
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