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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2580 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

I am concerned about Mr Humphries' story about SOCOG. I have sympathy with him if it is unclear what we are supposed to be doing in different states and territories. He said that other places have similar legislation. As I understand it, nobody in this place is saying that we should not do something. Everybody agrees that we should do something. When I interjected and asked, "Has everyone got this level of detail?" he said no. He seems to have had a genuine problem finding out exactly what we are required to do. This government has chosen to produce this particular piece of legislation, which some members in this place, including me, have concerns about elements of. We are not debating whether or not we should have this kind of legislation; we are debating how extreme it is.

I am also unclear from Mr Humphries' statements what items on the list of prohibited items he decided and what items SOCOG decided. Mr Humphries said that we had no choice; that the political slogans came from SOCOG. Then we were told that this is a draft letter and they are still working on the list. I guess that means that there are two elements to the list of prohibited items. There are some things which have been clearly required from SOCOG and there are other items which Mr Humphries and his officers are working out.

Mr Humphries: That is not true.

MS TUCKER: It is not true, Mr Humphries says.

Mr Humphries: It is all required by SOCOG.

MS TUCKER: The definition of prohibited items has been given to you by SOCOG? Is that what you are saying?

Mr Humphries: As I understand it. I will confirm that. As I understand it, that is the case.

MS TUCKER: Clarify that, please, because I am not clear on that.

Mr Kaine: Where is the list?

MS TUCKER: The list has been tabled, but I do not think it has been circulated. I am interested to know how much of it is being required by SOCOG. Mr Humphries is checking that. I am sorry we have not had a chance to see this list in advance. If the items on the list are required by SOCOG, I do not understand why the list is so late in arriving here. I heard Mr Humphries say it was hard to get responses, that it is vague and that the Federal Police were the people who informed him. I do not understand the structure of SOCOG at all, if that is the case. I find it interesting that the Federal Police will be dictating to members of parliaments around this country what we put in our legislation. The whole thing is quite concerning.

Mr Humphries is still conferring. I do not have anything else to say, except that from what I have heard so far in the debate I think that what Labor is doing is perfectly reasonable, and we will be supporting it.

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