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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 436 ..

MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (4.46): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to move the amendment that has been circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

MS FOLLETT: I move:

That the last paragraph be amended by replacing "12 December 1995" with "5 March 1996".

I have already spoken to the motion and to Mrs Carnell's amendments. The amendment I am moving is very minor. It is merely to change the date of reporting by the Government on this matter. Mr Connolly's original motion required that the Government report by 12 December 1995. It does seem a fraction academic at this stage, so I am seeking to make that 5 March 1996. I want to make it clear that, whilst I am moving the amendment to the motion, quite clearly my Labor colleagues and I cannot support the motion itself as amended by Mrs Carnell. The motion as now amended is, in my opinion, quite contrary to the intention of the original motion moved by Mr Connolly. It is totally emasculated. It is nothing more than a mindless mouthing of the Government's privatisation agenda for health.

Mr Humphries: Perhaps you might give me advice, Mr Speaker. It seems to me that what Ms Follett is doing is commenting on a vote of the Assembly just conducted.

Mr Wood: Do not be stupid.

Mr Humphries: That is true. She is reflecting on a vote we have just conducted.

Mr Wood: Do not use nonsense arguments. You persist in this sort of nonsense.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Wood! Settle down.

Mr Wood: For heaven's sake, he wants to close down debate. What are we here for?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Follett knows that it is out of order to reflect on a vote of the Assembly. I am also aware that this is a somewhat unusual situation. I do believe that Ms Follett has a right to express the concern of the Labor Party in not supporting the original motion, as amended. In spite of the fact that it is a bit unusual, she is amending something which she does not really support. That is what it comes down to. I would ask you, nevertheless, Ms Follett, not to reflect on a vote of the Assembly.

MS FOLLETT: In speaking on the motion, which has now been amended, I am aware that the motion has not yet been passed by this Assembly, so you can hardly hold that I am reflecting on that; nor am I under any restraint in commenting on the motion that is before us. The motion as now presented is an emasculated version of the one put forward by Mr Connolly. I am not reflecting on anyone's vote. I am telling you the facts.

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