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MR WOOD: I know that you worry about it, Mr Moore. I am pleased that I will be appointed, I understand, to the tourism committee. It is not going to involve me in the enormous amount of work that the Planning and Environment Committee will require. The other fact of the matter, quite simply, is that Mr Moore did not just want to continue his chairmanship of the environment committee; he wanted to keep it out of the hands of the Greens. He did not want them to have any further avenue to promote environmental issues. That is the simple reason for the deal between Michael Moore and the Liberals.

MS TUCKER (3.51): The Greens are concerned because we feel that we have been pushed into a situation where we have been asked to make a decision and we have not had time to consider it adequately. We have been aware of the work that has come out of the environment committee and the PDI Committee over the last few years. We are nervous about some of the implications of joining these two committees together. Throughout our discussions today there were very strong views expressed by both sides, but there was not adequate time for us to investigate seriously what the pros and cons are. That is why we are opposed to rushing this matter through. One of our concerns is that the environment committee, if it were linked with planning, would not have the opportunity to be as proactive as it could be.

MR BERRY (3.52), by leave: I move:

Omit paragraph (10).

Paragraph (10) of Mr Moore's motion is the paragraph which I referred to in the course of this debate. I urge all members to support the amendment because it goes to the very standards of representation on committees in this place. If you allow the system to be rorted to that extent, you will regret it. It is all right to do over the Labor Party. You might think it is very smart. But it will return to visit you. We know what the numbers are; but, although we know that we are going to be defeated, on particular issues - issues of extreme concern, like proper representation on committees - where outrageous proposals like this are attempted, the Labor Party will resist them. I will be asking the Greens and I will be asking Mr Osborne to support this amendment because it brings some sanity back into the debate.

Of course, Mr Moore will chuckle, because he has been burnt. He has been caught out through this collaboration between him and the Liberals to reduce the impact of the Labor Party in the very important committee process. This proposal is strictly designed to reduce the membership of the Labor Party in particular on the Planning and Environment Committee. There is no question about that. Even the smallest youngster at primary school can add up the numbers. That is why the standing orders are being struck out by the motion of Mr Moore.

If Mr Moore is fair dinkum and he really believes that the standing order has had no effect, he should support my amendment, and then we will see what the Speaker says about it. The Speaker will have in front of him the job of making a balanced decision on the merits of what is written in the standing orders. If you add up the numbers, Mr Speaker, you will soon discover that what is proposed does not match the standing orders. In due course, you will be called upon to make a judgment in that respect.

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