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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (5 December) . . Page.. 3614 ..

MR MOORE: I may well speak to it. I advise members, as is the normal approach to these things, Mr Quinlan, that I propose to move amendments to seven clauses. The first six are sensible things like making sure the definitions of political parties and such things fit in with the Electoral Act. I do not think the Labor Party is likely to have difficulties with any of those. They are to make sure that there is good record keeping and so on.

The amendment to clause 7 is the crunch. It will enable us to protect our community organisations. If a donation is made to a political party, then an equivalent donation ought to be made to those groups defined in the guidelines - basically, community and sporting groups.

This is very sensible legislation. It is long overdue. It is worth remembering that there were attempts by the government to get people to do this voluntarily, and that did not happen.

I make it clear to members that I will be moving my amendments as an Independent member without approval of the government. They will take their own position on the legislation. These are my amendments, initiated by me. I gave drafting instructions without any discussion with the Liberal Party. I showed them a copy of the amendments after they were drafted.

Mr Berry: Oh, yes!

MR MOORE: The sensitivity of the Labor Party is most interesting. We heard Mr Quinlan a short while ago talk about demonising clubs for grubby political purposes. Nobody is demonising the clubs in the slightest. We think they have the potential to do a huge amount of community good. We think they already do do a huge amount of community good. We need to make sure, though, that that community good is commensurate with the special privilege clubs have with regard to poker machines. That is what we are interested in, and that is what this legislation seeks to achieve.

Mr Quinlan was yelling very loudly during most of his speech. He knows that the best form of defence is attack; that a bit of anger makes people feel uncomfortable and might help deliver his point and get him somewhere.

We have in front of us very good legislation that will enhance the community. I talk to many community groups that and ask, "Can we be provided with more funding through Healthpact or the health portfolio for a good idea?" There are huge demands well beyond what we can afford. This legislation means that it will not be just the department of health or the Department of Education and Community Services deciding which groups get money. There will be a range of other opportunities when somebody has a good idea goes to the clubs. It is not a case of raking in the revenue, adding to the bottom line of government. It is about delivering a community good in a very clear way without bureaucracy.

This is very good legislation. I am flabbergasted that the Labor Party would oppose this in principle, as Mr Quinlan indicated. They should reconsider that stand. I can understand why they would oppose my amendments. I think they would be wrong. But that is a different story. To oppose this legislation would be just to protect their own

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