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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 94 ..

Mr Humphries: The motion was defeated. It was not carried.

MR WHITECROSS: This is your chance, Mr Humphries, to back away from a bad policy. The Government, and the three Ministers responsible, have enjoyed espousing the fact that the ACT had relatively liberal trading hours compared to the rest of Australia. The fact is, Mr Speaker, that the overwhelming effect of this legislation has been contrary to liberalisation of trading hours. It is moving in exactly the opposite direction of the direction in which people are moving in other States. The Government's trading hours policy is all about perception.

Mr Humphries: What does the repeal of this Act do? It reinstates the old trading hours legislation, which is very restrictive. You are restricting trading hours by repealing our legislation.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Whitecross has the floor. Mr Whitecross, continue.

MR WHITECROSS: I am touched by the fact that when the Government benches interject, Mr Speaker, you call me to order; but - - -

MR SPEAKER: No; I am not calling you to order, Mr Whitecross. I am saying that you have the floor. Continue.

MR WHITECROSS: Thank you. You should address your remarks to the Government benches. They seem to not enjoy applying the courtesies that might normally be applied.

MR SPEAKER: You, in turn, might like to turn and address the Chair when you are speaking.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, Mr Humphries does not even understand his own legislation, if we are to believe his interjections, because he seems to think that this repeal Bill would have the effect of restricting trading hours. Mr Speaker, the Government's policy is all about perception. They want to be seen by their constituency to be doing something, but the legislation has always been a stunt and it is not based on sound policy objectives. The restriction of trading hours is about hopes and wishes, and nothing else. It goes against public opinion and was rushed through despite tangible discontent in the community.

Labor has listened to the views of the community. The community is still outraged, six months later, and very inconvenienced by the trading hours law. It is an illogical policy which has no purpose other than appeasing a constituency which has been putting pressure on the Government. Mr Humphries's best attempt to put a good look on a bad policy was his remark on 30 May last year when he said, "Making everyone unhappy is a way of saying we have struck the right balance". Mr Speaker, he has succeeded in one thing; he has made a lot of people very unhappy with this legislation. If he thinks he has struck the right balance he is seriously in error. This is perverse logic, and it is time for Mr Humphries and Mrs Carnell to consider the majority and think about making them happy.

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