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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 7 Hansard (19 October) . . Page.. 1895 ..

Mr Humphries: I bet you are enjoying that, Michael. Twist the knife.

MR MOORE: I could hardly let the opportunity go by. I have not done that for about a year and a half, so I thought I would just have a go. Representation has been inadequate, and that is the problem that we face today. I would encourage the Minister, in responding to the report of the Legal Affairs Committee, to keep in mind the whole range of other possibilities for running our police force. The report is not just about having an ACT commissioner; it is also about our relationship with ACT police officers. A number of speakers today have spoken very positively about the police officers you meet on the beat. We all meet them regularly in different venues. I think we all feel positive about them. I am told that even when they flash the blue light and pull you over they deal with you very well. Fortunately, I have not had that experience for some time in the ACT and I hope that I do not.

The Minister does have the problem, which Mr Osborne has rightly identified, that effectively he is almost a Minister without portfolio. He is responsible for police but basically has very little control over them other than for handing over $50m.

Mr Humphries: That is not true.

MR MOORE: I hear Mr Humphries saying that it is not true, but until we have a police commissioner who is responsive to the ACT Government and parliament we are in a position that I simply do not like us being in. I think we could do much better.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.

Debate resumed.

MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (4.08): Madam Deputy Speaker, I seek leave of the Assembly to amend the motion that I moved this morning in the terms that have been circulated.

Leave granted.

MS FOLLETT: Thank you, members. I amend the motion in the terms circulated, which read:

Omit all words after "That", substitute "notwithstanding the provisions of standing order 174:

(1) the Public Sector Management (Amendment) Bill 1995 be referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry and report, by 29 November 1995;

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