Page 391 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 December 2008
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If we are going to put in preambles that attempt to tell a story, the story needs to be incredibly accurate. Perhaps there will be, further down the track, a discussion about what is the purpose of a preamble. But to insist that there were just some members of the Assembly who were opposed to the project is not true. It was never true; it is not true now. If we are going to have this practice, there is going to be a lot of discussion in the future in this place about the use of preambles and what goes into them. Preambles, I personally believe, should outline what the bill intends to do. To make comment in the way that it was made is unfortunate and just shows that perhaps the acceptance of what is going on is not as genuine as it could be by the government.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Minister for the Arts and Heritage) (5.48): As I indicated earlier, the government will not support the amendment. I do not have much to say about it. But the Minister for Planning just pointed out to me that he thinks there is an incorrect reference to the block as block 1671 whereas the motion refers to 1676. I am concerned that this has not been replicated through the bill, so it might just be a typographical error that needs to be checked. I think it might be worth checking for typographical issues within the bill itself, as well as clearing that up. As I indicated, the government does not propose to support the amendment and in that context we will vote against the preamble in its entirety when the vote comes.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (5.49): I thank the Greens for their support for our amendment. I do not know if there is a procedure for fixing those typographical errors.
Mr Stanhope: There is.
MR SESELJA: We would of course submit to that being done, if the block is incorrectly described, just to ensure that we get accuracy. Whatever the procedure is I am sure the Clerk will work through it. I thank the members of the Greens for their support. We believe it better reflects the story that is being told and that it is important that it does. It is the final chapter and I thank members for their support.
Amendment agreed to.
Preamble, as amended, agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Appropriation Bill 2008-2009 (No 2)
Debate resumed from 9 December 2008, on motion by Ms Gallagher:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.50): This evening the Assembly is in the fascinating position of having the Stanhope-Gallagher government introduce an appropriation bill,
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