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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (29 October) . . Page.. 2413 ..

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to speak again.

Leave granted.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I will start by answering the comment by Mr Hird that I am only a front-rower. A couple of years ago, I remember that on the front page of the Canberra Times there was a picture of Mr Hird, and he was saying how much I reminded him of himself. Mr Speaker, it has taken me three years to get over it; so I would ask that he refrain from doing that again. Mr Hird, please refrain from comparing us, or I will tender my resignation straightaway.

I want to respond to what Mr Corbell said, Mr Speaker. I acknowledge the wording of the Assembly's motion. However, I think that there was general consensus amongst a majority of members that our preferred option was for a single fare for the zones. At the time the motion was debated, my understanding was that the new zonal system was going to come into play before this report was to be tabled. I think it was to start in September. So I think the goalposts have shifted somewhat on both sides. I acknowledge what Mr Corbell said; but if you take the time to read Hansard, I think you will find that the general feeling of this Assembly was that they wanted more; that the single fare for the three zones for schoolchildren was a minimum. So I just thought it important to get that on the record, Mr Speaker.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR HUMPHRIES (Acting Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer) (11.04): Mr Speaker, I present the Legislative Assembly (Members' Staff) (Amendment) Bill 1998, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR HUMPHRIES: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

A set of employment arrangements for LA(MS) Act staff was introduced on 1 July 1997, which achieved the following outcomes: They increase flexibility of MLAs to utilise staff in ways which best suit the needs of their respective offices; they allow for the widest range of options between the employing member and staff within the overall employment framework, thus providing staff with greater choice in structuring remuneration packages to better suit their individual preferences; and they ensure responsible budget outcomes whereby the MLAs' staff allocations are known in advance and understood.

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