Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 4054 ..

MS REILLY (5.07): Mr Speaker, I would like to speak against that motion. As Mrs Carnell has just pointed out, and as Mr Stefaniak made some reference to in his speech, the department has looked at various aspects of this service. I fail to see why they are being so modest in not wanting to provide a report on this service. Why do we have to refer this matter to the Standing Committee on Social Policy, recognising the timing of that, as we have nearly finished the work of this Assembly? There have been suggestions that it would be a waste of effort to repeat the work previously done. I am surprised that there has been no offer at this point to provide a report on this service, if work has been done to the extent suggested by both Mrs Carnell and Mr Stefaniak. I think there is no point in putting this study to the Social Policy Committee when you consider the timing of the finishing up of this Assembly and the claims about the work that has been done in examining the various aspects of this centre.

MR WOOD (5.08): I think the Chief Minister put a good case for the motion that is on the notice paper here, for the motion that Ms Reilly has moved.

Mrs Carnell: There is no report.

MR WOOD: You have said that the department has had a look at this service and that quite a deal of work has been done there. That being the case, there is not an enormous amount of work involved in the department providing the report requested in this motion. To refer it to a committee of this Assembly seems to be a tactic simply to delay it. It is not going to advance anything. We all recognise that this Assembly is nearly complete. Committees are moving rapidly to conclude their reports before the parliament rises. It will be only a few weeks before that happens. Everything on the notice paper falls off for the election next year; so we would have to resurrect it. I think it would be quite possible to come out with a report as, from what you say, work is well advanced.

Mrs Carnell: There is no written report.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training) (5.09): As the Chief Minister alluded to, there is no written report. My department certainly has looked at it. I understand that it has talked to people from the centre. The centre provided it with written material and a video. The matter was looked at, but there is not anything actually in writing. That was last year. In terms of having a thorough look at it, there is certainly merit in what the Chief Minister suggests.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Carnell, the motion, at the moment, reads:

That this Assembly calls on the Government:

(1) to do a feasibility study ...

Mrs Carnell: I am just suggesting that the issue be referred to the Social Policy Committee. Can I do that?

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .