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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2293 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I believe that there are questions still there that need to be answered. As I said earlier, I certainly hope that the allegations are not true. I hope, however, that there is a chance that we can retrieve the $4m. I hope that we do get a favourable response on that issue. But, on the others, I do hope, as I said, that there is no case to answer. I thank the members for their support and I look forward to getting the result of this inquiry.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR BERRY (10.09): Mr Speaker, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent consideration by the Assembly of a motion on the wages and working conditions of Legislative Assembly (Members' Staff) Act staff.

Mr Speaker, the need for this suspension of standing orders arises because of the period of uncertainty which is facing staff in relation to this matter.

Mrs Carnell: It is not an uncertainty. You will get a letter on Monday. I have gazetted it, or I will gazette it.

MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell interjects that she will gazette it. That makes it even more important that the motion which I am circulating be passed by this Assembly in order that the Government can get the message on the issue.

What the motion sets out to do is to require the Government to maintain existing wages and working conditions as a minimum for all LA(MS) Act staff. Mr Speaker, we think that that is an appropriate course of action, given the point we have arrived at so far as the electoral term is concerned. It is an important motion which gives wage justice to workers in the Assembly. It ensures that fair treatment is the order of the day, and that the unfair approaches which have been taken by the Government are not imposed on workers or members of the Assembly, or, indeed, the Speaker, as a result of the inquiry which was set up - I emphasise set up - by the Government.

Mr Speaker, that motion, I think, should be in everybody's hands, so we can take a vote on the motion for the suspension of standing orders.

Mrs Carnell: It is a pity it was not this morning.

MR BERRY: It was placed on the notice paper this morning.

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