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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (21 May) . . Page.. 465 ..

Mr Humphries: It could have been dealt with under Assembly business as well.

MR BERRY: So it is not Executive business. It has not been endorsed by the Cabinet. Here we have a Minister who wants to be a member all of a sudden. This is a confusing package, Mr Moore, if I - - -

Mr Moore: Yes, I understand that it is confusing for you, Wayne, because it takes a reasonable intellect to understand it. It takes half an intellect to understand it. It takes a quarter of an intellect to understand it.

MR BERRY: Mr Moore interjects in a personal way. He always wants to interject in a personal way and get personal about things. Today, for the first time in the life of this Assembly probably, a member of the Executive presents a Bill which he does not have the administrative responsibility, as set out in the administrative arrangements orders, to deal with. There has been no consultation with anybody in this chamber, other than, I suspect, Government members. There has been no discussion of it. Two Government business meetings have occurred in the last week or so, and it has not been raised with the Labor Opposition for discussion.

I am not opposed to considering this issue and considering the forms that we should adopt if Michael Moore wants to be an Independent outside of the Executive. It is very difficult for him to try to present this independent image when he is in the Executive. This may look to some outside here like a stunt, just to go through the pretence of being independent. I think we need to refer this to the Administration and Procedure Committee to ensure that the issue is looked at properly, with proper advice from people who understand these issues, not people who have a political agenda to run in relation to the matter. This could be discussed out in the open, and I think it ought to be. To spring it on the chamber like this, Michael, is an embarrassment, and it shows the lie of everything you have said about being open and consultative. This is not open and consultative; this is secretive. This is about springing things on members in this place. That is what you have done.

Mr Speaker, my colleague will speak a little more in relation to this matter; but this was not raised and the Labor Party was not consulted about it, when it ought to have been. It is a very distinct change to the order of business and the way in which we deal with things, and there has been no discussion. It ought to be discussed properly.

Mr Moore: It has been. Do you remember? You would not let me do it in private members business. Why did I not do it in private members business? Because I discussed it with you and I discussed it with Kerrie and you said, "Please do not". That is just a lie.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer) (11.36): Mr Speaker, I have to say that I think the Opposition's arguments here have been particularly weak.

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