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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4926 ..

Mr Berry: That sounded like an imputation that Mr Osborne has no talent.

MR SPEAKER: I have no idea what that was all about, and I do not think it is an imputation either. Continue, Chief Minister.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I make no imputations about anybody in this house. Mr Berry does it all for himself.

Mr Speaker, with regard to submissions, the inquiry will seek public submissions so that people will be able to have input. In fact, I would be suggesting to Professor Pettit - and I am sure that the Assembly would too - that he might seek public submissions fairly shortly so that information is on the table. Also, Mr Speaker, I do take on board - - -

Mr Corbell: During an election campaign? That is very non-partisan, non-political!

MR SPEAKER: Would you people be quiet. Some people in the chamber might like to listen, even if you do not; and, if you do not wish to listen, I would suggest that you go outside.

Mr Corbell: Are you calling us to order, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: There is still time to suspend members, and you may very well be the next one.

Mr Corbell: Are you calling us to order?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, I am calling you to order.

MRS CARNELL: Ms Tucker also raised a good point, that members of a newly elected Assembly as well should have an opportunity for input to this inquiry. Certainly, that is a position that I will be putting to Professor Pettit as well. I am sure that he will concur with that approach. Mr Speaker, it is very hard to work out what those opposite are on about a lot of the time; but this review is not beginning in the middle of an election period. This was announced in October. The members of the committee actually have been appointed. My understanding is that they were due to meet this week. The only reason it has taken as long as it has to get it up and running has been the opposition of those opposite. Mr Speaker, we are not in the middle of an election period now. We are not even in caretaker mode yet. Professor Pettit has a huge amount of information, and I am sure that the community will put in submissions to have a look at the whole issue of governance in the ACT.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the majority of this Assembly for support for this very important review of the way that we operate. I am confident that it will raise issues or approaches that may be able to be taken on by a future Assembly and may improve the way that we operate in this place.

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