Page 1916 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2006
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I move this motion in consideration of recent discussion within the Select Committee on Working Families in the ACT and separate discussions between the government and opposition whips. Members may be aware of a motion from Mrs Burke and an amendment currently sitting on the notice paper regarding changes to the reporting period and terms of reference of the Select Committee on Working Families in the ACT.
The Assembly has given leave to the mover of the original motion to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference at the time debate on the motion is due to conclude. I feel it may be unparliamentary to deal with this original motion in Mrs Burke’s absence. However, I note that, at this time, the machinery of the committee continues. I therefore ask the Assembly to amend the reporting date so the committee can work on the government’s response to the interim report and also allow Mrs Burke to close debate on her motion on her return. I urge members to support the motion.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.58): The opposition supports this motion, which is essentially procedural and is outlined in the way Mr Gentleman has described. I thank the government for accommodating this issue and for acting in a parliamentary way. It was within the power of the government to conclude the debate in Mrs Burke’s absence and they have appropriately declined to do that. This was a stopgap measure suggested by me and which Mr Gentleman has agreed to. I thank him for this, but I would also like to note for the record that this stopgap measure ensures that Mr Gentleman draws another two or three months salary as chairman of the committee, which is of dubious value to this Assembly and to this territory.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Legal Affairs—Standing Committee
Report 3
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stefaniak is not here. Who is the deputy chair?
Mrs Dunne: Only Mr Stefaniak can do it. We have called him, but he is not here yet.
MR SPEAKER: The question is that the report be noted.
Mrs Dunne: Can I move that this matter be adjourned until later in Assembly business?
MR SPEAKER: We will run out of time, Mrs Dunne.
Mrs Dunne: No, sorry. I cannot do that because this is the end of Assembly business.
Dr Foskey: Can I do it on behalf of the committee?
MR SPEAKER: I am advised no—only Mr Stefaniak. If it is merely passed that it be noted, that is the end of the matter, and it goes off the notice paper. The intention was that Mr Stefaniak would discharge it, so it is a matter of merely noting the report and that is the end of the matter.
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