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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (31 August) . . Page.. 2643 ..

Mr Humphries: I am sorry; you are quite right. I beg your pardon; it is only one.

MR STANHOPE: Yes. So, in fact, you are supporting 1(aa).

Mr Humphries: And 1(ab), I think.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hird): Are you clear on that, Mr Attorney?

MR STANHOPE: Before we go on, I move amendment No. 1 circulated in my name, which reads:

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope, just a moment. I think the Attorney is just making sure of this.

Mr Humphries: No, let the debate go on, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am sorry, Mr Stanhope.

MR STANHOPE: I will speak briefly to the amendment. I understand the points that the Attorney is making. As I said before, I think the settling of a date in relation to tabling of subordinate legislation or a disallowance period does require making a judgment. There really is no objective criteria that can be applied to this. The Labor Party is suggesting, through this amendment, that we reduce the first period by more than half, namely, from 15 sitting days to six sitting days. That does potentially shorten the period. It does allow us to claim that that extra degree of certainty and certitude is made available to the community. The objective of this piece of legislation is to make the process shorter and more certain. Perhaps the issue of certainty is significant here. I am grateful, in a way, that the Attorney has accepted that point in relation to that first period.

In relation to the second period, we can all express a view on what the appropriate period for disallowance might be. I have suggested 12 days. The Attorney thinks we should restrict it to six days. I am concerned about the need for us to ensure that we do allow that capacity for the community consultation processes of the Assembly to be appropriately pursued. I have to say, in the context of the comments made and our endeavours here to shorten that period and to provide greater certainty, that I am not aware of any real examples of who in the community has been adversely affected by

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