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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4367 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

I would have thought that this was a great opportunity for Mr Humphries and his Liberal colleagues to show that they do care about families in Canberra, especially those who will find it increasingly difficult to shop during the Christmas break.

Mrs Carnell: At 10 o'clock at night?

MR OSBORNE: Mrs Carnell interjected. Obviously, your memory does not go back to when your children were young, Mrs Carnell - - -

Mrs Carnell: They still are.

MR OSBORNE: Not as young as mine.

Mrs Carnell: I am sorry; they are actually quite little.

MR OSBORNE: Not as young as mine. Often it is 9, 9.30 or 10 o'clock before we can get them all to bed and go shopping.

Mr Speaker, I realise that both Mr De Domenico and Mr Humphries would be very embarrassed if they supported my piece of legislation. It would be an admission that they were wrong. I said "both Mr De Domenico and Mr Humphries" because I am not quite sure whom to address on this issue. We have Mr De Domenico coming into this place, introducing Bills and adjourning debates. He is a bit like the person you go and borrow money from - the loan shark. When it is time to pay the money back, they send in the big bully, Mr Humphries, to fix it up. Mr De Domenico is in the firing line; but, once it gets too hot, Mr Humphries comes to his rescue. Mr Speaker, I am not quite sure whom to address on this issue. I am sure, though, that the people of Canberra will remember not only the Government's action on this, but also their lack of compassion over the Christmas break. I would just like to remind both the Government and the Greens that it is not too late for them to swallow their pride, do what they know is right for the people of Canberra and support this Bill.

Mr Speaker, there are a couple of reasons why I chose the path of legislation rather than regulation. I have heard people say that it does not allow much flexibility. I would argue that Christmas is one period of the year which falls on the same day and certainly is one time of the year when it is very hectic. So, I would have thought that legislating over that period was sensible. As Mr Moore said, if the Government does not like the period that I have stipulated, what stops them amending it? What stops them providing some sort of stability for the major town centres, not only for the reason I stipulated but also because I think it allows a tremendous opportunity - whether it be a three-week period or a four-week period - for school leavers to find some work after the end of exams and before they start their university studies? That is why I felt that legislation was the preferred option. It certainly does set it in concrete. Regulations can be changed from year to year or easily dropped altogether, even during the period of their operation.

Mr Speaker, on this issue, it is quite obvious that Mr Humphries and Mr De Domenico cannot be trusted. They have misled the people of Canberra on this issue. That is why I felt that it was imperative that we stick it into concrete. Mr Speaker, I am pleased to also hear at long last an admission from the Government that the trading hours restrictions

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