Tuesday, 22 September 1998
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DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY HANSARD 22 September 1998 22 September 1998 Tuesday, 22 September 1998 Petitions: Arts - funding.....................................................................................1967 Abortion legislation ............................................................................1968 Abortion legislation ............................................................................1968 Urban Services - standing committee..............................................................1969 Consideration of Assembly business ...............................................................1969 Education - standing committee .....................................................................1970 Acts Revision (Taxation of Territory Authorities) Bill 1998 ...........................1975 Dangerous Goods (Amendment) Bill 1998.....................................................1976 Financial Institutions Duty (Amendment) Bill 1998 ........................................1977 Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 1998....................................................1981 Magistrates Court (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1998.........................................1989 Bail (Amendment) Bill 1998...........................................................................1989 Protection Orders (Reciprocal Arrangements) (Amendment) Bill 1998...........1989 Urban Services - standing committee..............................................................1990 Urban Services - standing committee..............................................................1990 Questions without notice: Australian Public Service....................................................................1996 Insurance levy - motor vehicles...........................................................1997 Australian Public Service....................................................................1999 Ainslie Primary School .......................................................................1999 Methadone program ...........................................................................2001 Business incentive scheme ..................................................................2003 Insurance levy - Emergency Services ..................................................2003 Nurses dispute....................................................................................2005 Marketing and promotion campaign ...................................................2007 Arts funding .......................................................................................2009 ACTION - tender for services ............................................................2013 Personal explanation ......................................................................................2013 Paper .............................................................................................................2014 Subordinate legislation...................................................................................2014 Land (Planning and Environment) Act............................................................2015 Chief Minister’s Portfolio - standing committee..............................................2018 Health Ministers conferences (Ministerial statement)......................................2020 Drug strategy funding (Matter of public importance)......................................2023 Justice and Community Safety - standing committee.......................................2037 Adjournment: Mr Stuart Rendell...................................................................2038 Tuesday, 22 September 1998 __________________________ MR SPEAKER (Mr Cornwell) took the chair at 10.30 am and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory. PETITIONS The Clerk: The following petitions have been lodged for presentation: By Ms Carnell, from 40 residents, requesting that the Assembly reverse the decision to cut $1.6m from the Institute of the Arts so that it can continue to provide a worthwhile resource within Canberra. By Mr Moore, two petitions of similar wording, from 226 residents, requesting that the Assembly vote no to the Health Regulation (Abortions) Bill 1998 and show respect for women’s abilities to make informed decisions about reproductive health matters. The terms of these petitions will be recorded in Hansard and a copy referred to the appropriate Minister. Arts - Funding The petition read as follows: To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory: The petition of supporters of the Arts in the Australian Capital Territory, draws to the attention of the Assembly the cut of $1.6 million to the Institute of the Arts, as part of the 1998 budget, which will impact on the delivery of services by the Canberra Schools of Music and Art to the community and will adversely affect the quality of life in Canberra. Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to reverse the decision, so that the Institute of Arts can continue to provide a worthwhile resource within Canberra. 1967 22 September 1998 Abortion Legislation The petition read as follows: To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory: The following residents of the Australian Capital Territory draw to the attention of the Assembly: that the Osborne ‘Health Regulation (Abortions) Bill 1998’ if passed by the Assembly would effectively amount to a ban on abortions being performed in the ACT and would lead to the closure of the Reproductive Healthcare Services clinic. This would have the effect of drastically reducing the status of women in the ACT. Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to: l. Call on Mr Osborne to withdraw the tabled Bill from the Assembly’s consideration; and 2. In the event of the Bill being put we urge members to ‘Vote No!’ to the Osborne Bill and show respect for women’s abilities to make informed decisions about reproductive health matters. Abortion Legislation The petition read as follows: To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory: The following residents of the Australian Capital Territory draw to the attention of the Assembly: that the Osborne “Health Regulation (Abortions) Bill 1998” if passed by the Assembly would effectively amount to a ban on abortions being performed in the ACT and would lead to the closure of the Reproductive Healthcare Services Clinic. This would have the effect of drastically reducing the status of women in the ACT. Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to: Vote “NO” to the Osborne Bill and show respect for women’s abilities to make informed decisions about reproductive health matters. Petitions received. 1968 22 September 1998 URBAN SERVICES - STANDING COMMITTEE Alteration to Reporting Date MR HIRD (10.32): Mr Speaker, I ask for leave to move a motion to alter the reporting date for the Standing Committee on Urban Services inquiry into the Environment Protection (Amendment) draft legislation. Leave granted. MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, I move: That the resolution of the Assembly on 25 June 1998, as amended on 27 August 1998, referring the exposure draft of the Environment Protection (Amendment) legislation to the Standing Committee on Urban Services for inquiry and report, be amended by omitting “22 September 1998” and substituting “27 October 1998”. This is a straightforward motion, Mr Speaker. On 25 June this year the parliament directed the Urban Services Standing Committee to inquire into, and report on, the exposure draft of the Environment Protection (Amendment) Bill. The parliament asked us to report by 1 September this year. The committee could not meet such a tight deadline and, on 27 August this year, the parliament granted the committee an extension until today. Unfortunately, the absence of members and the committee’s busy workload mean that the committee is unable to report as directed. There is significant community interest in this legislation. Therefore, we have scheduled a public hearing on the Bill for 16 October this year, after which we expect to produce a speedy report. On this basis, the committee seeks an extension of the reporting deadline to the first sitting day in October, that is, 27 October 1998. This is still a tight deadline but my colleagues and I believe that we will be able to meet this deadline. I thank members. Question resolved in the affirmative. CONSIDERATION OF ASSEMBLY BUSINESS Suspension of Standing Orders Motion (by Ms Tucker) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent order of the day No. 8, Assembly business, relating to the presentation of the Standing Committee on Education’s report on preschool education, being called on forthwith. 1969 22 September 1998 EDUCATION - STANDING COMMITTEE Report on Preschool Education MS TUCKER (10.34): Pursuant to order, I present report No. 1 of the Standing Committee on Education, entitled “The future provision of preschool education”, together with the minutes of proceedings. This report was circulated on Monday, 14 September 1998, pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly of 24 June 1998. I move: That the report be noted. Mr Speaker, this inquiry was the result of the Auditor-General’s report on preschools, which found that while preschools are excellent some efficiencies could be found in building utilisation and staffing.