Ms O’CONNOR (Hobart) – Mr President, first of all, I would not mind some advice on this and a moment to consider it. What I am concerned about –
Mrs Hiscutt – Excuse me. Through you, Mr President, I forgot to say that if the bill does come on, you still have the opportunity to send it off to a committee at that stage. You can have another go. Does that make sense?
Ms O’CONNOR – Could I pause for a bit of Clerk wisdom?
I regard the Leader in this place to be a very honourable person. I am very thankful for the contributions that have been made and the indicative support for this Council to more properly and thoroughly examine the rationale behind, and evidence for, this bill. It is work that we have to do.
I am thinking on my feet here and I am not always great at that. Should I seek leave to withdraw my motion to refer the bill to Government Administration Committee B? I reserve the right when the bill comes back on to do the same, because unless we, as a Council, can reassure ourselves of all the questions that have now been raised, we will still be in the same position.
I thank the Leader for working this path through. As I understand it, just for absolute clarity, what is being proposed here is that I withdraw the motion, and the government commits to not bringing the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill on until after Estimates in the next session.
Ms Forrest – After the Budget wrap‑up.
Ms O’CONNOR – After the wrap‑up?
Ms Forrest – A week after the Budget wrap‑up finishes. It needs to be clear.
Ms O’CONNOR – That would be quite late in October, which may well give the court process time to resolve. Then we will not have that issue with being uncomfortable with – and rightly so – subverting a court process.
I seek the leave of the House to withdraw my motion to refer the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill to Government Administration Committee B.
Mrs Hiscutt – Before you put that question, Mr. President, I confirm that the date would be 29 October. That would be the earliest opportunity.
Leave granted; motion withdrawn.
