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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 1372 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer): Mr Speaker, for the information of members and pursuant to section 8 of the Legal Aid Act 1997, I present a direction to the Legal Aid Commission, including an explanatory statement.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer): I present, pursuant to standing order 83A, an out-of-order petition lodged by Mr Rugendyke from 63 citizens concerning the home and business insurance tax.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present my own business program for 1998-99 and seek leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker and members, in the last Assembly I took great pride in my track record with legislation. I introduced 20 pieces of legislation, more than any other member and, indeed, I believe more than the entire Opposition group in total. Unlike some other parliaments, we in the ACT are developing a lively and productive culture of non-government legislative proposals. Highly important issues which governments, for one reason or another, fail to raise are being brought up for consideration. Not all such proposals succeed and not all achieve support in the community but they have proved to be worthy of public debate and they bring depth and texture to this Assembly.

I strongly believe that my new role as Minister does not abrogate for me my duty to make contributions through channels outside the Executive role. I made many philosophical commitments when I last asked the people of Canberra to elect me. I must come through on those commitments. Of course, my ministerial duties will limit my time, and my responsibilities as a member of the Government will limit my previously absolute freedom to work on any issue. I have accepted these constraints in pursuit of the good which I believe I can do for the community in my Executive role. As members are aware, my participation in this Government is on the basis that my colleagues accept my political history and allow me the freedom to work independently on issues where I have had strong interests, where the public have expectations of me and where I have the experience to make a contribution.

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