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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4790 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Our sphere of activity is (with the exception of bush searches) the urban area, as the events of this last week (13 - 15 Nov 96) clearly indicate. Storm damage response is one of our most important roles and it occurs in the suburbs. If we had been operating from rural sheds this week our response times (half an hour extra on average) and basic operational effectiveness would have been dismal. Quite simply, we would not have been able to manage the task that we did.

Furthermore, this week's storms emphasise another flaw in the "logic" of the restructure. At the busiest time during the ACTES storm damage response, the bushfire service was flat out fighting fires at various locations around Canberra, including a large fire fanned by ferocious winds in Stromlo Forest. The clash of interests which would have occurred if we had been co-located, and sharing common resources, renders the notion absurd, operationally naive and arguably, dangerous to our members.

Mr Speaker, I could go on and on. Quite clearly, what this document does is satisfy me and, I thought, the Opposition that we should at least have a look at the proposed restructures the Government is planning to implement. Not to support paragraph (2) of my motion renders it toothless. We should not bother going through the process of looking at this whole issue if we are going to allow the Government to implement the changes. I see Mr Whitecross being rubbed up by Mr Humphries - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR OSBORNE: Well, what is another word?

Mr Moore: "Massage" is the term used in the locker room.

MR OSBORNE: Massaged. I am sorry. It is that football slang, Mr Speaker; I just cannot break the habit. I hope the Labor Party will see sense. Why go through supporting me if they are not going to allow us to have a look at the whole issue? Quite frankly, if the changes are going to take place, I can see no point.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The member's time has expired.

MR BERRY (11.21): Mr Speaker, my contribution to the debate will be confined to the reasons why we have decided to consider this separately. The Labor Party will be opposing - - -

Mr Moore: You will need leave, which we will be happy to grant.

MR BERRY: No, I do not. Well, I seek leave.

Leave granted.

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