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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 4853 ..

Amendment agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Debate resumed.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I believe I was in the middle of my speech at the in-principle stage. I believe I might need to seek an extension of time, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Your time, in fact, has expired.

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. That is why I seek an extension of time. (Extension of time granted) Thank you. Members, I draw your attention to the fact that we have a full Bill to go through. I do not mind how much of the in-principle speech I deliver now, or whether I speak clause by clause. It does not matter. I will deliver this speech as well as dealing with the amendments that I have to deal with.

The amendments that are on the table today have been prepared both in our own offices and by Parliamentary Counsel at extraordinary speed. I think the people who have come through shining most strongly in this whole process have been Parliamentary Counsel.

Mr Whitecross: As always.

MR MOORE: As always. I know that all members would agree with me and would join in thanking them for their efforts in this case. It is not just when we give them drafting instructions. On a number of occasions they have come back to us to check on exactly what we want to draw attention to. Mr Speaker, I was rather pleased that in the case of two of my amendments Parliamentary Counsel drew my attention to the fact that I might be interfering with the separation of powers in the way I had suggested that they be drawn up. I thank them for that kind of advice because I am very keen not to make that sort of fundamental mistake. Although our legislation goes through the Scrutiny of Bills Committee and is carefully considered by Professor Whalan and the committee, our amendments are not, and perhaps that is something that we need to deal with more carefully.

There have been two versions of the Government's amendment paper. The final version was provided to me at 5.40 pm yesterday. Since that time we have spent a lot of time sitting in the Assembly debating other issues and other legislation as well as attending a community meeting and so on. Proceeding with this legislation tonight is the wrong way to go. I urge members to consider this over the evening break. It is far better that we have time to consider this legislation properly. I implore the Government to reconsider their position. If they believe it is appropriate for us to push ahead with it, then the most logical thing to do is to call another sitting day next week, if they have to have it done before the end of this year for some reason.

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