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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2973 ..

MR CORBELL (6.04), in reply: Mr Speaker, first of all, there was no agreement asked for of us on that matter. Secondly, question time today took an hour and 15 minutes, and overwhelmingly that hour and 15 minutes was the result of the incredibly long answers provided by the Executive. Equally, Mr Speaker, it is a matter of decency that staff in this place are entitled to a break. They have no choice.

Mrs Carnell: Have you asked the staff whether they want to have a break or to get home early?

MR CORBELL: Yes, we have asked the staff, actually, Chief Minister. They believe that they are entitled to a break. I think that is a quite reasonable request. Finally, Mr Speaker, may I say that staff in this place do not have a choice; we do. We have a choice; but they do not, and they have to stay here.

Mrs Carnell: The staff can have a break at any time they want.

MR CORBELL: They cannot break whenever they want, Chief Minister. If we continue sitting, these people have to continue sitting in this chamber.

Mr Speaker, there are 12 Bills on the notice paper today. This Assembly and this chamber nearly closed down early on Tuesday because the Government did not have enough business. It has crammed 12 Bills onto the notice paper, and is now crying foul because we are trying to stop it. It is just absurd. If you cannot manage your business, that is your problem; but do not ask the staff in this place or the attendants in this place to deal with the consequences of your poor management. A one-hour break after a sitting that resumed at 2.30 this afternoon is not an unreasonable ask. Staff and members can come back into this place and deal with the Bills that the Government wishes to have dealt with; but do not try to bully members of the Opposition and staff in this place to continue on, simply because you cannot manage your business.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Sitting suspended from 6.07 to 7.07 pm

GAMING MACHINE (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO. 2) 1997 [NO. 2]

Debate resumed from 2 September 1997, on motion by Mrs Carnell:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer)(7.07), in reply: Mr Speaker, this Bill will strengthen the accountability and the reporting requirements of clubs with gaming machines with regard to their community contributions and club investments. The Bill provides for the appropriate Minister to table in the Assembly an annual report of community contributions by clubs. The Bill also provides for other amendments which deal with the installation and the technical evaluation of gaming machines.

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