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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 11 Hansard (19 October) . . Page.. 3280 ..

MR SPEAKER (continuing):

not to take sides in matters of political controversy, and that if a judge breaks this convention a member may feel under no obligation to remain mute on the matter in the House.

On Thursday of last week, Mr Osborne presented copies of a press release issued by the Chief Magistrate and a newspaper article relating to the passage of legislation by the Assembly relating to a Children's Court magistrate in which the Chief Magistrate expressed the hope that "resolution of the present debacle can be urgently attended to by those responsible". Ms Tucker also presented copies of letters written by magistrates on the matter.

Having considered the matter, I am prepared to allow debate to encompass the press statements and correspondence of the Chief Magistrate and magistrates circulated to members. However, in debating the matter, I call upon members to refrain from using offensive words or reflecting on the judiciary personally.

CANBERRA TOURISM AND EVENTS CORPORATION - BUSINESS PLAN FOR 1999-2000

Paper

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation business plan for 1999-2000.

PAPERS

MR HUMPHRIES (Treasurer, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Community Safety): For the information of members, I present guidelines for the classification of publications, dated 23 July 1999, prepared in accordance with the Classification (Publications Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 of the Commonwealth.

I also present, pursuant to standing order 83A, an out-of-order petition lodged by Mr Hird, from 448 citizens, concerning a proposed eastern extension of the Gungahlin Parkway through O'Connor Ridge.

MAGISTRATES COURT AMENDMENT BILL (NO 2) 1999

Debate resumed from 26 August 1999, on motion by Mr Humphries:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR BERRY (3.31): Mr Speaker, this Bill is one of the classic examples of catch-up legislation that have come to the notice of this place. This Bill arose out of the discovery by Labor of a period of inaction by the Attorney-General in relation to two other important pieces of legislation which have been endorsed in this place. I refer to the

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