Page 3694 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 21 November 2006

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there were at least professional negotiations, but they are very unhappy with the plan that has been put on the table. They have said that. There is no way of getting around that.

We cannot go from this day onwards into this fire season with this issue remaining unresolved. It is a running sore that needs to be dealt with now. There is no way that there is going to be a negotiation between the VBA and JACS to come up with yet another plan. The opposition has road-tested its legislation. The volunteers are happy with that legislation. It meets all their needs. If the government were to rescind the vote of last week, we could have here within a short time the legislation that would firewall the SES units’ and the RFS brigades’ bank accounts and community fundraising procedures. Those traditional practices can be firewalled from the concerns that have been expressed by the government solicitor in the context of the Financial Management Act.

The legislation will do that, minister. If you are big enough to look after your people, your volunteers, to look after their morale, you will vote here today to rescind that vote. We need to do that today. We cannot wait until December.

MR SPEAKER: What you really mean is that we will need to suspend the standing orders, is it not?

MR PRATT: I do indeed, Mr Speaker. We need to move today to suspend the standing orders so that we can embark on a process of resolving an issue that remains an open sore. I just finish by saying that Mr Barling, in his letter to the minister, has said—

MR SPEAKER: Order! The time for this debate has expired.

Question put:

That Mr Smyth’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 7

Noes 10

Mrs Burke

Mr Smyth

Mr Barr

Mr Gentleman

Mrs Dunne

Mr Stefaniak

Mr Berry

Mr Hargreaves

Mr Mulcahy

Mr Corbell

Ms MacDonald

Mr Pratt

Dr Foskey

Ms Porter

Mr Seselja

Ms Gallagher

Mr Stanhope

Question so resolved in the negative.

Questions without notice

Health—smoking in enclosed public places

MS MacDONALD: Mr Speaker, my question, through you, is to Ms Gallagher in her capacity as Minister for Health. Following the passage of the Smoking (Prohibition in Enclosed Public Places) Act 2003, bans will shortly come into effect on smoking in enclosed public places. Could you please update the Assembly on the introduction of these bans?

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