Page 2736 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
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I will close by reflecting on the fact that there is never an easy time to leave a job like this: there is always more to do. I am sure Simon will feel he leaves with some things unfinished that he would have loved to have seen through. There will always be new things that will come along where, as a citizen of the city, he would wish he still had the ability to make that direct and immediate change as a minister.
But I also want to reflect on the fact that it is a great opportunity. Simon has a great deal of his life left ahead of him. There is a whole lifetime and a whole new career to be established. I want to wish him well in getting stuck into the other things his life can bring. We have seen the motorbike parked outside on occasion. Taking up motorbike riding in your mid-forties, well, it has its risks. As someone who spends a bit of time on two wheels myself I simply say to Simon: take care out there. The system is not favourable to the two-wheelers, and I hope that you ride long and safely.
I hope you get around to building that sustainable house and pursuing some of those other things that 20 years in public life have meant you have probably not got around to. You have much life ahead of you. I wish you a great deal of happiness and success in whatever you take on next. Enjoy a well-earned retirement from the Legislative Assembly. All the very best, Simon.
MADAM SPEAKER: The Assembly will suspend until the ringing of the bells.
At 10.58 am the sitting was suspended until the ringing of the bells.
The bells having been rung, Madam Deputy Speaker resumed the chair at 11.09 am.
(Quorum formed.)
Executive business—precedence
Ordered that executive business be called on.
Freedom of Information Bill 2016
Debate resumed from 5 May 2016, on motion by Mr Rattenbury:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (11.09): I am pleased to be able to say that the Canberra Liberals will be supporting this bill today in principle. We will be supporting it because despite the concerns and complexities that have been raised by those who prefer the status quo, we in the Canberra Liberals believe that reform in this area is required. A lot of that stems from the frustration that we have felt in opposition where many of our freedom of information requests have been blocked and delayed. They have come back with blackout redaction all over them. We have had requests and demands that we pay thousands of dollars to get information.
Then we get this inconsistency. You will get one view of what should be provided from one agency and a different view from another agency. Indeed, members of the
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