NSW: Government defends reduced sitting time in 2000

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-1999
NSW: Government defends reduced sitting time in 2000

The New South Wales government has defended its curtailed 2000 agenda for state parliament.

NSW parliament will sit for fewer days in 2000 due partially to the Olympic and Paralympic
Games in the second half of the year.

The opposition claims the government is deliberately trying to stifle debate on the
chamber floor.

But Treasurer and upper house leader MICHAEL EGAN says there's nothing untoward about
the schedule and suggests the opposition needs all the preparation time it can get.

The upper house met for 60 days last year while the lower house has already adjourned
for the year and will not return until April.

An attempt by Mr EGAN late last month to adjourn the upper house for the same period
was thwarted by the opposition who demanded it come back for one day tomorrow.

Mr EGAN says that move, at the insistence of the opposition and some cross benchers,
had been made at great expense to the taxpayers.

AAP RTV jw/sb/as/jn

KEYWORD: SITTING (SYDNEY)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.