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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 1336 ..

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (11.35): Mr Speaker, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Moore from making a statement.

The reason I move for the suspension of the standing orders, Mr Speaker, is to highlight the fact that this legislation has been introduced in a sneaky way.

Mr Kaine: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister may debate the question of the suspension of standing orders but not the substance of the matter on which he bases that.

MR MOORE: No, I am not doing that. As you heard, Mr Speaker, and I will repeat it - - -

MR SPEAKER: To date, Mr Kaine, he has not. Mr Moore is well aware that he cannot debate the statement but he is, I think, explaining why he wants to suspend standing orders. Am I right?

MR MOORE: Indeed. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to suspend the standing orders because I want to highlight the sneaky way in which this legislation has been introduced, the lack of public consultation. I want to suspend standing orders to identify the danger of this piece of legislation. I want to suspend standing orders in order to make it very clear to people in this chamber and to the people of the ACT that for some reason there is a - - -

Mr Kaine: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. This Assembly has already given the member leave to table his Bill. Why that was done I believe is not a matter for debate. The Minister is debating an earlier resolution of the Assembly.

MR SPEAKER: I accept that the Assembly has given Mr Osborne leave to table his legislation. Equally so, Mr Moore has sought the suspension of standing orders so that he may make a statement in relation to it. Again, it is up to the Assembly to make that decision. There is no point of order. Go on, please, Mr Moore.

MR MOORE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The reason I wish to make a statement to the Assembly is to highlight these issues. I want to suspend standing orders to highlight for all members of the Assembly the appalling nature of this piece of legislation. I want to suspend standing orders so that I can identify the need for this piece of legislation to be widely circulated to the public to allow the public to understand the restriction that it imposes on individuals. I wish to suspend standing orders so that I can explain how Mr Osborne has sought to mislead the Assembly about what this piece of legislation does. Mr Speaker, I seek to suspend standing orders so that I can explain to people here the danger of this piece of legislation. I wish to suspend standing orders - - -

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