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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 4 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 859 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

Reith, Howard and Costello are about is very short-sighted policy, but, then again, Mr Howard is not noted for looking much beyond his own future.

A very good point was made by, I think, Ms Dundas, about the degree of overwork. She suggested that the hours the underemployed worked and the hours that they want to work ought to be recorded. I reckon we ought to do that as well for the people who are overworked. We should ask how many hours they work and how many hours they really want to work.

I think the point is well made that it is important that we identify the extent of this problem. Hopefully, that identification of the problem will engender debate and maybe that debate will engender some action which will lead us away from the potentially adverse social outcomes that Ms Gallagher so rightly predicts.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: The discussion has concluded.

Suspension of standing orders

Motion (by Mr Hargreaves ) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the order of the day for the resumption of the debate on the motion to take note of the report of the Select Committee on Estimates on Appropriation Bill 2001-2002 (No 3) forthwith.

Estimates 2001-2002-Standing Committee

Report

Debate resumed.

MR HUMPHRIES (Leader of the Opposition) (5.16), in reply: In light of the time, I do not want to say very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will make just a couple of comments in response to what the Treasurer had to say this morning about this report. He seemed uncomfortable about being on the receiving end of an unfavourable report. I know the experience. I suppose he will get used to it.

Mr Quinlan: I was crushed, Gary!

MR HUMPHRIES: Of course, Mr Quinlan.

He said I must be regretting that I did not move in the estimates committee to report on Appropriation Bill (No 2). Indeed I am, but I was persuaded by the argument that the government put to me that there was no time to consider an estimates committee in respect of appropriation No 2, and to have things like extra money available to the hospital in its "crisis" by Christmas. As to the acceptance of those arguments, no estimates committee was moved. I think many of us regret that there will be no estimates committee in relation to appropriation bills, particularly subsequent ones, and I am sure that a very good case will need to be made in future for that not to occur.

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