Page 4084 - Week 13 - Thursday, 31 October 2013
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resolved in a Christmas 1914-like meeting as the battle raged around us. We were on, I think, the convention centre motion. We all moved off to a quiet corner and made sure that these were negotiated to a point where they could be agreed by all three parties. As the Chief Minister has indicated, I think that is important. I must reflect we are disappointed we did not get the same outcome on the code.
Where possible on these sorts of issues, it is important that, if we are going to remove any controversy around these, we do, where we can, seek to have a tripartisan view. I think that there has been some give and take on all sides to make sure that we get that outcome and I think that the outcome is certainly a workable solution.
I thank Mr Rattenbury for having, in the process of these negotiations, essentially amended what he was going to put forward, with a view particularly to the fact that the Speaker is now required to consult but not necessarily seek the agreement of certain members. I think that is important. The Speaker can actually make sure he or she can appoint someone and is not stymied by someone essentially refusing to accept the particular nomination.
I think also that the review clause is important so that we can come back to this place and make sure that the motion is working effectively, as it is intended.
The other amendments that have been moved essentially are matters of debate, in essence, about who can complain about whom and who then can make decisions around that. I think that there is some argument either way. I think that the amendments are workable, equally as my amendment to the original motion is workable. But certainly in the interests of making sure that we have a tripartisan view, as I indicated, the opposition is happy to accept Mr Rattenbury’s amendments.
This obviously now is going to get passed, and the opposition welcomes that. We have done what we can to make sure that, when and if issues do arise, they can be dealt with in a proper fashion and that where possible, noting that this is a political environment, these sorts of issues are not mounted for political purpose. But we do make sure that if situations do arise where there is concern over a member’s particular conduct, we now have a process and a way forward of dealing with that and taking some of the perhaps politics and the sort of vexatious nature away from it. So I think it is a step in the right direction and I look forward to the process as it unfolds.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (11.14): In closing the debate, I will make a few brief remarks now. I simply want to take this opportunity to thank members for their input and support of this process. I think it is important that we have this role to provide a non-partisan mechanism for dealing with disputes in this place. They can be very difficult when they arise. I think this is a wise way to proceed to set up something that gives a space and will give both members of the public and members of the Assembly confidence that there is a mechanism in place to look at these difficult matters.
I think this is the right time to do it, when there is not a matter at hand. We have been able to do this in a way that is relaxed and is not trying to deal with a particular dispute. So I thank members for their support and I commend the motion to the Assembly.
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