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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2353 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Mr Humphries sought to clarify what he was to say. He sought to offer the opportunity that there would be clarification. Mr Berry insisted that it could be done only by way of a motion. They challenged Mr Humphries to put the motion - to withdraw and put the motion. Mr Humphries put the motion and now you are saying that he cannot do it. You cannot have it both ways. I think Ms Tucker is right in saying that when an allegation is made and it is serious the matter should be dealt with immediately. I think that House of Representatives Practice will confirm that such matters should be dealt with. That is also the practice in the House of Representatives.

MR HARGREAVES (2.58): All too often this place is regarded as a mickey mouse parliament by people criticising it because it is not serious enough, partly because some of the questions in this place asked by the honourable members sitting up the back here are absolute rot, and people know it. I would like us to start treating question time a little more seriously. If people want to know what goes on in this town they can tune into question time and find out. This grandstanding in the middle of question time does little for its reputation. We ought to start thinking a little more seriously about it. It is going to take an extra half an hour. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I wonder whether this is a ploy on the part of Mr Humphries because Mr Hird has not got his copy of the supplementary question yet.

Question resolved in the negative.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, in the circumstances I have concluded my answer to that question.

MR OSBORNE: My question is directed to Mr Humphries. I have forewarned him of this question and I believe he has taken some action, but I will still ask it. Minister, I was informed this morning that the student bar located on the University of Canberra campus does not operate under ACT liquor licensing laws. Given that we now have control of the university, can you inform the Assembly what liquor law the bar is subject to and on what legal basis it is promoting a change to being open for 24-hour trading from tomorrow?

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mr Osborne for the advance notice of this question. Mr Speaker, I was rather disturbed to hear that the bar at the University of Canberra does intend to start trading on a 24-hour basis. Members will recall the fairly long and tortuous process whereby it was agreed that there should be a 5.00 am closing time for licensed establishments covered by the Liquor Act in the ACT. That regime applies, of course, across the Territory except, as I understand it, for some establishments which trade under Commonwealth law. I am not sure at this stage exactly what Commonwealth law or regulation governs them, but I understand it applies to establishments such as the bars at Parliament House and drinking places in military and defence force establishments.

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