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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 4352 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

Today, because the government decided to come to the table and put forward its own amendment of 1 December 2006, which is almost a week after I believe the current exemptions run out, it is technically as soon as is practicable, and that is why I am supporting the amendment for 1 December 2006.

MR SMYTH (Leader of the Opposition) (5.09): Mr Speaker, the opposition will not be supporting Mr Corbell's amendment. I had intended to move my own amendment but Mr Corbell got the call first so I will not have the opportunity to do so because, of course, Mrs Cross's amendment will have already been amended.

I just want to go back to the process that has taken place in respect of Mr Corbell's amendment. How can you place any trust in what the minister says when in the course of a day we are going to adjourn, then we are going to December 2006, then we are going to adjourn, then we are going to have an earlier date if he can do it, then he stands up and says, "I didn't really mean there was going to be an earlier date,"particularly after the Deputy Chief Minister had to race down here and box his ears metaphorically and say, "You're not making that commitment"? So then he jumps up to give an explanation that he actually meant it was perhaps the exemptions that might be wound back earlier, but that would depend. It just means an exemption from Minister Corbell is not worth the paper it is written on. There is no certainty in this process.

I think what we ought to be doing is aiming to bring all of the community together. I think everybody acknowledges that smoke-free places are something we all should be working towards as quickly and as practicably as we can with the benefit of all in mind. That is why we proposed November 2008. We appreciate that is going to go down. I just wish to highlight the cynical nature in which the minister has conducted himself today and over the past week.

Mr Corbell's amendment to Mrs Cross's amendment agreed to.

Mrs Cross's amendment, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 3 to 14, by leave, taken together and agreed to.

Clauses 15 to 21 taken together.

MRS CROSS (5.12): I move amendment No 2 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 4372].

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (5.12): Mr Speaker, I move my amendment No 2 [see schedule 2 at page 4373], which seeks to amend Mrs Cross's amendment No 2.

Mr Corbell's amendment to Mrs Cross's amendment agreed to.

Mrs Cross's amendment, as amended, agreed to.

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