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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (17 June) . . Page.. 1698 ..

Mr Moore: You are not talking about individuals; you are talking about positions, are you not? There is a difference.

MR HUMPHRIES: No, I am not talking about positions. I am talking about the holder of the present position. The holder of the present position happens to be extremely well placed to advise on the implementation of multiagency aspects - - -

Mr Whitecross: You have transferred her to the new coordinator's job.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I did not interrupt anyone when they were speaking on this Bill, and I would be grateful to have the same courtesy extended to me.

Ms McRae: Poor Mr Humphries!

MR HUMPHRIES: I know Ms McRae cannot restrain herself; but the fact of the matter is that Robyn Holder, in my view, is better placed than any other person I can think of in the ACT at the present time to look at multiagency aspects of strategy and implementation - the sort of issue which I think is central to the success of this process. I could, of course, ask Ms Holder to resign as Victims of Crime Coordinator and suggest that she be the domestic violence project coordinator instead, but I think that we would lose the benefit of another position by her doing that. It is quite deliberate that I have envisaged Ms Holder, as the present occupant of that position, taking a very important role in the early stages of the work of this council as the person who will chair it initially.

That is the position as we, the Government, and I, the Attorney-General, have seen it in bringing this package to the Assembly. As I have said, it is open to the Assembly to impose a different vision of how this will work. I simply ask members to be very careful that they have a clear idea of how that alternative vision will work and that they understand that this other method of pursuing it will be sustainable and affordable. I ask members to exercise some care in that respect. I thank members for their support for the general outline of the Bill as presented to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Clause 1

Debate (on motion by Ms Tucker) adjourned.

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