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NOES, 9 . . Page.. 888 ..

There are a number of things we are not happy about with this Bill. There are also a number of issues the Green members of the Assembly have raised and have talked to us about which we agree with, including things such as FOI, and we will be happy to support some of them. I know that Mr Moore has some amendments that we are also happy to consider, and Mr Osborne as well. We will be working through those amendments to get the best form we can out of a corporatised ACTEW, if it is the will of the Assembly that it be corporatised, and that appears to be the case; but we do not think we are doing it in the right way. We do not think we are going to get the best result. We think there are going to be problems caused by the haste with which the Government has approached this and their refusal to take the community into their confidence, to listen to what the community has to say, to take on their good ideas and incorporate them into the Bill. We agree with those in the community, including such organisations as the Conservation Council, the Council of Social Service and the Trades and Labour Council, who say, “Let us get it right first and then let us talk about corporatising it”.

Motion (by Mr Berry) put:

That the debate be adjourned.

The Assembly voted -

Question so resolved in the negative.

MS TUCKER (7.58): Mr Speaker, the way this Government, supported by Mr Moore and Mr Osborne, is rushing these pieces of legislation through the Assembly is deplorable, especially as they have all committed themselves to open government, to consultation, to consideration of all people in our community. We are all well aware of the importance of ACTEW’s services to all residences and businesses of the ACT. It is up to this Assembly to ensure that the community service, environment and business obligations of ACTEW are met. By rushing through the corporatisation this week just so that ACTEW does not have to have two sets of accounting books for the next financial year, we are also throwing away an enormous opportunity to lead the way in showing that the ACT sees economic efficiency in the broadest sense, that we recognise the business opportunities of expanding research and development in alternative technologies, and that we can find innovative ways of meeting social justice needs at the same time as creating new jobs for Canberrans.

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