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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1148 ..

MR SMITH (continuing):

Mr Rugendyke's amendment is far better than Mr Hargreaves' proposal. Mr Hargreaves is seeking to take out of the national road rules all those features that stop car theft. If the Labor Party wants to be in favour of car theft, that is fine. He wants to take them out. He said that we do not need any of them. At least Mr Rugendyke has had the good sense to say that the one that really annoys people is covered by 213(4)(b).

Mr Berry: Putting the handbrake on stops car theft!

Mr Hargreaves: And taking the key out of the ignition stops car theft! Have you ever heard of hot wiring?

MR SMYTH: Let us extend it: Car theft or children causing damage by either starting their parent's car or pulling off the handbrake and letting it roll. Mr Rugendyke's option is a much better option.

I turn briefly to Ms Tucker's proposal. Ms Tucker would have us accept that a bicycle rider is actually a pedestrian. That is the gist of her amendments; bicycle riders should have the same rights as pedestrians. Clearly, they are different and should be treated differently. No stretch of the imagination would allow you to consider even vaguely that a cycle rider is a pedestrian. It would be absurd to place cycle riders in peril. If these amendments were accepted, I believe that Ms Tucker would be putting cycle riders in the ACT in danger.

There is absolutely no joy in being declared posthumously to be right. Let me just give you one example of what she wants to alter. Ms Tucker would have us alter Australian road rule 72, concerning giving way at an intersection. What does she want to do?

Mr Hargreaves: I rise to a point of order about relevance, Mr Speaker. We are talking about Mr Rugendyke's amendment, not Ms Tucker's amendments.

MR SPEAKER: I do have to uphold that point of order.

MR SMYTH: Then I will close by saying that Mr Rugendyke's amendment is - - -

Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Will you enforce your rule of earlier today about discussions in the chamber?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, I am happy to. Members, please go outside if you want to have a conversation.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, the Government will support Mr Rugendyke's amendment. I will discuss Ms Tucker's motion when we get to it.

Amendment agreed to.

MR SPEAKER: The question now is that the motion, as amended, be agreed to.

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