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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 358 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

The point is that Pettit was saying it had to be a process that was inclusive and long term; it was not something that happened a week or two before the budget, and certainly, not one day's debate.

Mr Kaine and Mr Berry put it clearly if you seriously want meaningful input from members of the Assembly. Might I add that the community are totally lost in this debate. I think the community have a place in this discussion.

Ms Carnell: ACTCOSS support it.

MS TUCKER: Now we are hearing that ACTCOSS supports it. I have seen ACTCOSS' press release and, once again, that side of the house is misrepresenting what has been said. They said it was a good idea for the members to be able to have an opportunity to talk about fundamental principles. Obviously ACTCOSS are interested in principles such as equity and so on. There is no way that they would expect to see this level of detail debated in 20 minutes or half an hour. No thinking person could expect that. I think it is very, very improper of the Government to suggest ACTCOSS would be of such a low intellect to think that this level of debate could occur over that period of time, with no real information from Treasury, which, as I said, other people have pointed out.

What we seem to be hearing from this place, at least from Mr Kaine and me, is that there is an interest in having some process where there is an opportunity for people to have access to information and therefore meaningful input. The community as well, of course, should be involved in that. That is not what is being offered here today at all. If we do have this debate, I will be talking at least about process, and I will be amending the motion to allow that aspect of it to occur. It is very interesting to me, Mr Speaker - - -

Debate interrupted.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Moore: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

Debate resumed.

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