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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 3146 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

There are a number of other things that I would say. As I have said, I am disappointed that the terms of reference are to be truncated. Nevertheless, I am pleased that Mr Osborne and Mr Rugendyke have seen their way clear to support an inquiry of sorts. I think it will serve a very useful purpose. The Labor Party, through our nominee, Mr Quinlan, looks forward to working with Mr Osborne, who I understand is nominating, and whoever else is successfully appointed to the committee.

I will make just a couple of brief comments on the proposal which we have been debating, that there be a Cabinet Minister on the committee. I will restrict my point simply to endorsing absolutely everything that my colleague Mr Corbell and everything that Mr Kaine said about this. I think it is just an appalling stunt by the Government. It is a spoiling action. The prospect of any member of the Cabinet being on this committee is completely unacceptable to the rest of the Assembly. For the Chief Minister, too, to quote Pettit as in some way justifying the need to utilise - - -

Ms Carnell: He made the comment that there is a problem.

MR STANHOPE: I would be careful about what Pettit said. He did; but, Chief Minister, he also made comments about the desirability of members of the Executive serving on committees. I think you will find, Chief Minister, when you look at it a little bit more deeply, that Pettit was not prepared to accept the prospect of members of the Executive serving on - - -

Ms Carnell: That is not what I said. I said that Pettit acknowledged the problem of not enough backbenchers for governments, and that is why he went to more members.

MR STANHOPE: We all acknowledge that. We have all noted that the Liberal Party and the Government endorse an increase in the size of the Assembly to 21. I will conclude my remarks on the amendments there. We are all tired, and I think that we are perhaps - - -

Ms Carnell: I am not.

MR STANHOPE: I could keep going, too, Chief Minister; but I am being sensible.

Amendments agreed to.

MR BERRY (7.24): I seek leave to move an amendment which has been circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

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