Page 3317 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (12.07 am): The government will not be supporting these amendments. Mr Rattenbury’s amendment No 4 proposes to introduce a right of action against public authorities if a person believes their right to education has been breached. The provisions for right of action are, in our view, premature. This was not the approach adopted when it came to the implementation of civil and political rights. In the first instance focus was on education and the implementation of the deliberative model within the policy making of government and the Assembly, and the right of action followed at a later date. The government believes this has been a successful approach and that we should adopt the same approach when it comes to the incremental introduction of and provision for economic, cultural and social rights.
Mr Rattenbury’s amendment No 5 proposes a new review provision for the operation of the human rights in part 3A. Mr Rattenbury has overlooked the fact that a review of other ESC rights should also be included in the Human Rights Act. The government has already indicated its intention to conduct a review and there is no requirement to adopt the approach suggested by Mr Rattenbury.
Amendments negatived.
Remainder of bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion by Mr Corbell proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Dr Damian McMahon
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services) (12.10 am): Today I rise briefly to speak of a wonderful doctor at the Canberra Hospital, Dr Damian McMahon, who, unfortunately, recently passed away. I would like to pay tribute to him for his contribution to the community.
I offer my own sympathies and those of the ACT government to Dr McMahon’s wife, Helen; sons, Xavier, Riley, Grange and Dinan; sisters, Fiona and Michelle; brother, Lincoln; and extended family, friends and colleagues.
Whilst most of us, including myself in my capacity as health minister, knew and admired Dr McMahon as the passionate surgeon who was instrumental in establishing the Snowy Hydro SouthCare helicopter service, as a trauma doctor, and as a great advocate for the Canberra Hospital Shock Trauma Service, his family and friends knew the man beyond the surgeon—the football fanatic, the AFL coach, the traveller, the gregarious friend, filled with enthusiasm for life.
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