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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 4350 ..

Detail stage

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2.

MRS CROSS (5.01): Mr Speaker, I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 4372]. I do not need to speak to the amendment as I said everything I need to say in my speech during the in-principle stage debate.

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (5.01): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 2 at page 4373]. This amendment seeks to amend Mrs Cross's amendment No 1.

Mr Speaker, I want to make it perfectly clear: Mrs Cross misrepresented me in her grandstanding speech during the in-principle stage debate. Mrs Cross sought to suggest that I claimed that her bill commenced the removal of the exemption period at the end of 2008. That is not what my press statement says. My press statement refers to Mrs Cross's and the Liberals' proposal to remove the exemptions from the end of 2008. It does not refer to her bill. I am sure she understands the difference between a bill and a proposal.

Mr Speaker, Mrs Cross's grandstanding on this issue has been extremely disappointing, because as late as 9 pm last night Mrs Cross outlined to me that her position was to support a phase-out at the end of 2008.

Mrs Cross: I told you that was the Liberals' amendment.

MR CORBELL: Mrs Cross indicated she would be supporting the Liberal Party's amendment.

Mrs Cross: As did the Greens and Democrats.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Cross!

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, Mrs Cross can protest all she likes-

Mrs Cross: Mr Speaker, the minister is misrepresenting me. This is an imputation.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Cross, if you wish you can come back to that later as a personal explanation. Mr Corbell, please stick to the subject matter of your amendment and direct your comments through the chair.

MR CORBELL: Yes, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker I have outlined those circumstances to explain why the government has moved this amendment today. This amendment was moved because it is the earliest practicable date that exemptions could be ceased without impinging on exemptions already granted. Exemptions are still being granted because the existing legislation gives no discretion to the minister's delegate. The existing legislation requires that exemptions must be granted if premises meet certain criteria and they must

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