Page 1992 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2006

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parliamentary process and to scrutinise this legislation so that these matters can be determined.

At the moment I think the people in Canberra feel that they have been hit from all sides. There is a lot of information we have not been able to elicit, even through question time, on the methods of some of these taxes and the way in which they are going to increase. So I believe that this is the appropriate course of action for such a new measure. I apologise that I did not give notice to the government on this, but in fact it only occurred to me very late in this debate that this is an option that would be available for consideration. That is a genuine comment on that.

So, Mr Speaker, there is not much more I can add. I covered the concerns about estimates earlier in the debate. I commend this proposal to members to consider.

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Acting Minister for the Territory and Municipal Services and Acting Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (8.04): Mr Speaker, the government will not support the referral of the legislation to the estimates committee. I am conscious of the comments that the shadow Treasurer made in the debate. This bill, at one level, is a separate plank of the budget strategy and budget. It is central to the essential scheme and design of the budget. I acknowledge that there is a short time frame. At one level I certainly regret that and I acknowledge the difficulty for members in coming to terms with a bill of significance, such as a revenue measure such as this, in the space of three days.

I regret that particular circumstance, but I am sure that, on reflection, members will understand and appreciate the circumstance. The budget was brought down on Tuesday this week. This particular proposal is central to the structure and the central direction of the budget and it is necessary that it be passed for the beginning of the new financial year in the context and terms of the budget and its strategy. I do acknowledge, and I certainly appreciate, the fact that the very short time frame has imposed additional pressure and stress on members, but the government regrets that that could not be avoided. We will not be supporting its referral.

DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (8.05): Just briefly, for all the reasons that both Mr Mulcahy and Mr Stanhope gave, although they both came to different decisions on it, I will support the motion of Mr Mulcahy, primarily because of the things that I said in my speech. I just think I have to follow through on that, understanding that it will be lost.

Question put:

That Mr Mulcahy’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted–

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