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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 13 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 3864 ..

MR OSBORNE: I have seen the recommendation, Mr Hargreaves. I recall, though, that it was not an issue that was going to be finalised today. My understanding is that there was some confusion within the committee as to why the levy was in the Bill. We felt that perhaps there would be a good reason for it being in the Bill, but I do not recall one being before the committee when we discussed this issue.

Mr Kaine has just joined us. Perhaps he could give us his understanding of Mr Hargreaves' amendment. To reiterate, my understanding is that this issue was not to be finalised now. We generally felt that at some stage down the track there should be separate ambulance legislation. I am looking for some guidance from other committee members on this issue.

MR HUMPHRIES (Treasurer, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Community Safety) (4.14): Mr Speaker, could I try to clarify the situation? I do not think Mr Stanhope's amendment will be effective.

Mr Hargreaves: It is mine.

MR HUMPHRIES: I beg your pardon. I apologise for the insult. I want to draw to Mr Hargreaves' attention the reason why his amendment will not work.

Ms Tucker: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have just had to sit through a really tedious debate about people impugning other people in the Assembly. It was about Gary-ing. Mr Humphries has now said it is an insult to call Mr Hargreaves Mr Stanhope. Can you be consistent in your rulings, please?

MR SPEAKER: I would be happy to uphold your point of order, Ms Tucker.

MR HUMPHRIES: I draw Mr Hargreaves' attention to why. I hope he is listening to this, because it explains why his amendment will not work.

Mr Hargreaves: I am listening to you. It is very difficult not to.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am pleased to hear that. I draw your attention to the very last page of the government amendments we have just passed, to new subclause 81(8). You want to put the Ambulance Service levy into the Ambulance Service Levy Act 1990, do you not, Mr Hargreaves?

Mr Hargreaves: No, I want it to remain there.

MR HUMPHRIES: I draw you attention to new subclause 81(8), which says, in part:

• Ambulance Service Levy Act 1990 No 79 ...

We cannot put the ambulance levy in an Act which has been repealed.

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