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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4980 ..

MS REILLY (continuing):

I am pleased that the Minister has decided to continue to investigate the centre and see what it has to offer, but you are left wondering why he did not say this was going to happen in the first place. When I put up the proposal through the motion to the Assembly, why did he not just take it on board and say that he would undertake the feasibility study, as I suggested, rather than be left with the device put up by Mrs Carnell of referring it to the Social Policy Committee? I assume that the next Assembly will want to hear the results of the further visit in December. I am sure they will want to know whether it was decided it was good, bad or indifferent, and what the results are. Why did we not just go through this process simply and have the Minister, on behalf of his department, take on board a feasibility study rather than use the slightly weird and unnecessary mechanism of referring it to the Social Policy Committee?

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Children's and Youth Services): I am not quite sure what Ms Reilly is on about because once an Assembly committee looks at something - - -

MR SPEAKER: You need leave, Mr Stefaniak.

MR STEFANIAK: I seek leave, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: A puzzled Mr Stefaniak seeks leave. Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

Mrs Carnell: He can have leave any time he likes.

MR SPEAKER: He is puzzled, though, is he not?

MR STEFANIAK: No. Ms Reilly, once a matter is referred to the Social Policy Committee I think it is very important - - -

Ms Reilly: I did not refer it. You did.

MR STEFANIAK: Shut up. Once it is referred to the Social Policy Committee I think the Government needs to - - -

Ms Reilly: Mr Speaker, a point of order.

MR SPEAKER: A point of order? Why?

Ms Reilly: I think the language used by the Minister was totally unnecessary.

MR STEFANIAK: I am sorry. I withdraw telling you to shut up.

MR SPEAKER: Oh, the language used in this place is appalling.

Mrs Carnell: You do not hear the Minister normally. That was very nice.

MR STEFANIAK: That is actually right.

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