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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 3089 ..

MR MOORE: The matter was adjourned by Mr Osborne for a later hour this day. I am quite happy to have this debate later on. I am not prepared to guarantee it at the moment. I have not had the opportunity to discuss it with my colleagues. Maybe we should just adjourn the debate on the suspension of standing orders, deal with the resources Bill and come back to the matter in a minute, if you need to do so.

Mr Smyth: Gary needs to get bushfires through. Bushfires has to be done today too, because of the season - - -

MR MOORE: My colleague Mr Smyth reminds me that there are two Bills that we consider absolutely critical to get through today - the Water Resources Bill, which you know about, and the Bushfire (Amendment) Bill. With the bushfire season coming on there are very good reasons why we want to get that piece of legislation dealt with. Then we should have the debate about standing orders and, with a bit of luck, we may be able to come to a position. We can just do it by leave.

MR SPEAKER: Order! I am reminded that the motion relating to the establishment of a select committee has already been adjourned to a later hour this day. It was moved earlier this morning by Mr Osborne. My advice is that the simple method of overcoming this is for you to withdraw your motion. The motion to adjourn this to a later hour this day remains.

MR QUINLAN: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to withdraw my motion.

Leave granted.

MR QUINLAN: I withdraw my motion.

Debate resumed from 24 November 1998, on motion by Mr Smyth:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR CORBELL (3.56): Mr Speaker, finally here we are with the Water Resources Bill, much to the Minister's relief. There is no doubt that the Water Resources Bill is a significant piece of legislation. It is a piece of legislation which, for the first time, will achieve a uniform method of regulating and managing the Territory's water resources. The Labor Opposition welcomes the opportunity to consider this Bill and to put in place a sensible framework for the management of the Territory's water resources. Mr Speaker, I think it is important to reiterate the objects of this Bill. I will quote from the Bill:

(a) to ensure that the use and management of the water resources of the Territory sustain the physical, economic and social well being of the people of the Territory while protecting the ecosystems that depend on those resources;

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