Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (18 November) . . Page.. 2602 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

Mr Speaker, this move has been another shameful example of the balance of power situation that Mr Osborne finds himself in. He has been prepared to avoid the reasonable approaches which have been taken in relation to matters of this import in the past. This is important legislation for the community. (Extension of time granted) Mr Speaker, the community needs to be fully aware of the modus operandi of Mr Osborne and his cohort. They are prepared to do anything. They are prepared to do anything to impose their will on other people, including the abuse of the usual and normal practices of this place when it comes to important legislation. They think it is important that they move quickly to limit the rights of women to certain procedures.

Ms Carnell: How do you know what is in the legislation? I do not.

MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell interjects that she does not know what is in the legislation. Stop trying to kid us.

Mr Corbell: Mr Humphries just stood up and said that it had been made available to everyone.

Ms Carnell: No, I have not seen the new Bill.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Hargreaves: Have you seen Mr Humphries' amendments?

Ms Carnell: Yes, but I have not seen the new Bill.

MR BERRY: Stop. Pull the other leg. Pull the other leg, Mrs Carnell. It yodels. The fact is that this has been an attempt to short-circuit the process and to short-circuit community debate which is harmful to some members of the Government. It was also a process devised to prevent Mr Osborne's Bill from going down, for the reasons I have described - because I think they are going to need his help later on. That troubles me. That process, I think, will be worried about by many in the community.

This is a shameful performance. Leave aside Mr Osborne for a moment. He will do anything to get his way, but the Executive should behave in a better way. We expect more of the Government of the Territory. People with the balance of power in the past have exercised more power than they are entitled to, but it is quite inappropriate for the Executive, and you, Chief Minister, to support a member in this process and help him ram through legislation which affects a great number of your constituents. He might be able to wrap you around his finger for future benefit, but you should not give in to these demands. It is a bad procedure and an abusive procedure which should never have been agreed to by your Government.

MR SPEAKER: The member's time has expired.

MR WOOD (11.39): Mr Speaker, on the basis that a member has the right to control private members legislation, I was initially inclined to support the suspension of standing orders, but my view has been changed during the debate. Mr Osborne knows that I am one who is most concerned about the high number of abortions in our community.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .