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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 199 ..

MR OSBORNE (11.37), in reply: I thank members for their support on this issue. It is a very important one, I feel. As I said in a previous debate, I look forward to input from other members of the committee and also from other members of the Assembly. I think it is something we need to root out and bring back an informed report so that all members of this place will be reliably informed. As I said, it is a very important topic. Alcohol, potentially, is a killer. Alcohol is causing a vast majority of the problems that are related to late night crime around Canberra. I think it is well worth the effort of having an inquiry. I thank members for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Debate resumed from 5 December 1996, on motion by Ms McRae:

That the order of the day listed under private members business on the notice paper in my name, relating to consultation on legislation, be referred to the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in June 1997, with particular reference to the viability and usefulness of the process outlined.

MS McRAE (11.38), in reply: We had all but concluded debate, I believe, last time around, Mr Speaker. At that point I was getting quite excited because Mr Osborne, as chair of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation, was about to indicate his support for this inquiry. It was with trepidation that I realised today that Mr Wood has taken over this committee. I had to have hasty consultations and I guess no-one would be surprised to learn that Mr Wood is quite happy to take on this reference.

In summary, I would like to bring up some of the evidence that perhaps I should have brought up at the very beginning because I think there was some misinterpretation of my early intent on the motion. I am very pleased that it seems that the Assembly will support this inquiry. Primarily, this is an issue that has been dealt with in many a parliament in Australia, usually around the issue of subordinate legislation rather than Bills, on the ground that Bills are given such a thorough airing that in most cases one can find out who has or has not been consulted. I do not think that precludes us having a pretty thorough look at how a consultative process could work and be included when Bills are tabled, and, of course, this is now what the committee will do.

In New South Wales the discussion in regard to this type of activity began in 1989. There was a report with recommendations in 1993 and the Subordinate Legislation Act came through in 1994. It has very specific guidelines on the nature of consultation that has to take place in relation to subordinate legislation. In Victoria, similarly,

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