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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2934 ..

Mr Berry: I seek leave to table the Crimes (Amendment) Bill which I moved in 1994 and the explanatory memorandum to the Crimes (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1994.

Leave granted.

Proposed Select Committee

MR BERRY (8.50), by leave: I move:

That:

(1) a Select Committee on Abortion be appointed to examine the detail of the Health Regulation (Maternal Health Information) Bill 1998 and the exposure draft of the Crimes (Amendment) legislation and any other related matter;

(2) the Committee be composed of:

(a) the Government backbench Member;

(b) Opposition Members; and

(c) Members of the cross benches;

(3) the Committee report by the first sitting day in March 1999;

(4) on the Committee presenting its report to the Assembly resumption of debate on the question "That clause 1 of the Health Regulation (Maternal Health Information) Bill 1998 be agreed to" be set down as an order of the day for the next sitting;

(5) the foregoing provisions of this resolution have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

Mr Speaker, throughout this debate, time and time again concerns have been raised about the inadequacy of the process that we are using to consider what is an important breach of the rights of a woman. Time and time again attention has been drawn to questions which have been raised about the effects of the Bill and the amendments which have been proposed by various members. We have two layers of amendments on top of the Bill. In my view, nobody in this place has a full understanding of what these things mean.

Ms Carnell: Yes, we do.

MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell interjects and says, "Yes, we do". I must say, Mrs Carnell, that you have not made a very good explanation of it so far - neither have any of your members - and you have had plenty of time. So, Mrs Carnell, I find that pretty hard to believe. Indeed, Mr Speaker, we have advice from rather strong authorities that there

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