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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3868 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

On this issue, we have the chance to show a bit of strength in our arm and say that this is not a process that we want; that we are prepared to go out to tender to get the sort of police force we want. If we get a far better tender from the Victoria Police, for example, and they are prepared to do the job for a five- or six-year period, then we should go for it. In the meantime, Mr Osborne's motion, which does not go anywhere near as far as I would go, is a step in the right direction. That is why I have no hesitation in supporting it. It is time there was a bit of fire in Mr Humphries's belly and a bit of fire in the belly of this Government as a whole in their dealings with the Federal Government. They should stop being pushed around by the Federal Government. This is a very pertinent example of the way this Government has allowed the Federal Government, their Federal Liberal colleagues, to push us around. Put an end to it, I say. Step one is Mr Osborne's motion; but, if at the meeting that Mr Osborne has proposed - if the offer is still open to people like me, Mr Osborne, I would like to attend, too - we do not get a reasonable hearing, then let us have a look at our options and let us find a better way to deal with it so that Canberra can stand on its own two feet.

MR OSBORNE (12.29), in reply: I thank members for supporting my motion. I would like to clarify a couple of points. Mr Moore said that this motion does not go far enough. I agree that it does not, but this is the first step in what I see as a long process. I do not imagine that we will get very far with Mr Williams. I would hope that he would see reason. I did consider censuring him or condemning him.

Mr Moore: Mr Speaker, I seek leave for this debate to proceed to its conclusion.

Leave granted.

MR OSBORNE: I did consider the option of censuring or condemning Mr Williams, but I did not think it would augur well for any meeting I might have with him, so I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. This issue of a police commissioner is unique. I heard Mr Moore speak of the Kevin Andrews euthanasia Bill. This is nothing like that. This is a request from a committee the members of which were unanimous in their recommendations. Their report came to the Assembly and received unanimous support. This is something that every Canberran would support, I would imagine. Every politician here has been supportive. As I said, this is a unique situation. This is something everyone wants. The only person I have heard say anything against our recommendations is Mr Williams. I think it is imperative that he explain his situation to us.

There are some potential problems that Mr Humphries spoke about; but, if we obtained our own police commissioner, police who came to work here in the ACT would perhaps sign contracts to be accountable to our police commissioner. We can look at a situation a lot closer to home than Canada. Norfolk Island has its own parliament and its own police commissioner. It employs AFP officers. The precedent has been set. Mr Williams should afford us the courtesy and come and speak to us.

This is not about attacking the AFP. I think they have done a tremendous job, especially since I have come into this place. I have paid particular attention to their role. That was obviously started by Mr Palmer stepping into the void left by the previous police commissioner and was admirably taken up by Mr Stoll and, to a lesser extent,

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