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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 2971 ..

Mr Rugendyke: No difficulty whatever. Tell us about the spirit of the legislation.

MR CORBELL: Every single Labor MLA is prepared to do that.

Ms Tucker: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have been noticing quite often that you are threatening to name people in the Labor Party. Mr Humphries, Mr Moore and Mr Rugendyke are all interjecting and you never seem to notice that. I draw your attention to it.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, I uphold the point of order.

Ms Tucker: I would like some consistency.

MR CORBELL: Hear, hear! Mr Speaker, every single Labor MLA is prepared to disclose all income. We are prepared to do it. Why isn't the government? Why aren't other members in this place? It seems to me that the only real argument against Mr Stanhope's proposition is that it would mean a lot of work for the Electoral Commission. Yes, it will mean a lot more work. There is no doubt about that, but is that a reason not to do it? The fact is that this Assembly passes laws all the time that require greater levels of oversight, examination, inspection and monitoring. This Assembly does it all the time. Why should we make an exception for ourselves? That seems to be the only argument against Mr Stanhope's proposition, and, quite simply, it is an inappropriate argument.

Mr Rugendyke raised the issue of the members register of interests and said, "Well, I already make these declarations in my members register of interests." The members register of interests does not require members to disclose sums of money. The members register of interests only requires that you disclose sources and the payment, but not the level of payment. So the members register of interests, whilst an important mechanism for accountability, does not have the same level of detail that is required by the Electoral Act.

Mr Speaker, I notice that Mr Osborne has raised the issue of introducing amendments which we are yet to see. In his speech in the in-principle stage he has indicated that he will introduce amendments that will require members not to vote in certain circumstances if a certain level of donation is received. I think he said the level would be $10,000. Well, Mr Speaker, I would raise the issue of legislating about when members can and cannot vote in this place. I think that raises some very serious issues about the privilege of members to exercise their role as members in this place. If we are going to start passing laws that say members can only vote in certain circumstances or, more importantly, members cannot vote in certain circumstances, I think that raises some very serious constitutional issues which I believe would almost certainly be contrary to the self-government act and certainly would impose on the privileges of members in this place. I hope that this Assembly very seriously considers those issues before we rush into a vote on amendments that Mr Osborne has flagged he will be proposing.

Mr Speaker, the final point I want to make is about the tirade which has been heaped upon this side of the chamber from members of the Liberal Party, and of course I include Mr Moore in that comment. The Liberal Party really should have a close look at its own record because only the Liberal Party has set up an organisation called the 250 Club by

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