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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (20 May) . . Page.. 425 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

The other part of the motion that I find a bit concerning is the 5,200 cap - not because we necessarily have a problem with a cap, but because I saw how the cap was arrived at this morning, Mr Speaker. Ms Tucker started at 4,600, where we are now. Then we put on 300, because they are the ones in the pipeline. Then a couple of hundred were added because there were some clubs some people could think of which had construction projects.

Mr Moore: You should have used a whiteboard. If you had been in the Labor Party you would have used a whiteboard.

MS CARNELL: I do not think there was even a whiteboard involved in this, Mr Speaker. Then we came up with 5,300; but because 5,300 was a bit high we went down to 5,200, and that is where it has come out. This, Mr Speaker, is policy-making on the run in the worst form.

Ms Tucker, regularly in this place, has reviled the Government, and for that matter the Opposition, on not consulting. Because this will lead to legislation, how could you possibly go down a path without asking the interested parties? But, bugger the interested parties, Mr Speaker; we will just think of the first number and add a few; think that the Raiders Club has not got any yet, and there is the Buffalos Club down at Tuggeranong and all sorts of clubs out there that we all know have some projects under way. We know that the Hellenic Club is out there. They will probably want that many. Add those; but that is a bit too many, so we will take those off. Mr Speaker, this is a ridiculous way to operate. Mr Speaker, these are businesses. These are businesses which have made business decisions based upon government legislation that has been passed in this place. Everybody should take a deep breath on this and think about the people or club businesses that could easily be affected by putting this cap on.

Mr Speaker, I ask for leave to move two amendments. May I do that now? I can pre-empt them if you would like.

MR SPEAKER: No; you can foreshadow them.

MS CARNELL: I am foreshadowing the amendments circulated in my name. I suggest that in paragraph (1)(c) we delete all words after "resources". There are no problems with "staff facilities and resources", but we actually have a consultant that is about to report. In terms of paragraph (2), I will be seeking to delete all words after "ACT" and substitute "The level of the cap to be recommended to the Assembly after consultation with interested parties". Mr Speaker, I would find it very interesting if Ms Tucker was not willing to consult before she made a decision, but I suppose we will wait and see. I think that approach will give this motion at least some form of credibility and ensure that the decisions that will be taken as a result of this, again, are workable.

Mr Speaker, in talking about workability, is the Assembly planning retrospective legislation? That is my question. Ms Tucker, are you planning retrospective - - -

Ms Tucker: I am happy to address that, Mrs Carnell.

MS CARNELL: Well, you have to now.

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