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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (18 November) . . Page.. 2649 ..

MR OSBORNE (4.56), in reply: I thank the Government for their support of this Bill. I might just add that I think that what Mr Stanhope and Ms Tucker said was worth considering. I am not sure - perhaps we can get some indication - whether the Government will be supporting this legislation today. My understanding is that most of the people who have made contact certainly have had no problem with this Bill. As I said, I thank the Government. I am unsure of when the Government are going to complete the inquiries that they have been talking about, but I do not think that passing this Bill of mine will unsettle that process too much. I think that it is a very sensible piece of legislation. I think the arguments put up by Mr Humphries should have been enough to convince the Labor Party and I do not think that there is any need to adjourn the debate at this stage, unless the majority of members think that there is.

I respect the process that is going on; but, as I said, we were talking about this piece of legislation long before Mr Humphries had proposed his major overhaul of the whole issue of defamation. I do not particularly want to adjourn the debate. I think that there is enough validity in having it addressed now and the legislation going through today. I thank members. I do not feel that passing the Bill will place any added burden on the process that Mr Humphries has put in place.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MR CORBELL (4.59): Mr Speaker, I rise in the adjournment debate this evening to raise an issue of some concern to residents of Ngunnawal. I have had some contact in recent days with the Ngunnawal Preschool Association, who are concerned about traffic issues around their preschool at Wanganeen Avenue in Ngunnawal. The issue that has been brought to my attention is that there is presently a lack of a pedestrian crossing in Wanganeen Avenue at the preschool and the primary school. I raise the issue because approximately a year ago I wrote to the former Minister for Urban Services, Mr Kaine, in relation to the potential for a crossing at the preschool at Ngunnawal and was informed that officers of his department would investigate the matter and consult with the preschool association.

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