[Kharon]

Of rocks and hard places.

Had a longish chat with one of the ‘wise owls’, one who understands how parliament works – or is meant to work. I was curious about the process and time needed to get the proposed amendment to the navigation Act tucked away. It seems to be a fairly straightforward matter.

Part 9 and 9a of the Act are ‘stand alone’ so a change to those parts does not have any knock on effects affecting other sections. So it is a matter of drafting the changes – and, according to the Owl, most of that work has been done by the Wagga crew. Once the ‘paperwork’ is complete, the Bill is tabled for the first reading – which is a mechanism for getting the thing official and don’t really signify. The part that matters, I’m told, is the ‘second reading’. With the bi-partisan support – barring cock-ups, that should be a no contest. The Senate will in all likelihood rubber stamp the thing – and the change to the Act is done, dusted, alive and kicking.

I may have understated the thing a little, in an effort to keep it short and simple – but as it was explained to me, it is essentially a short, simple process – provided the will to get it done is available. There’s the rub – political will – or will not. I reckon there’d have to be some pretty fancy talking done to explain why the thing is not to be done. The delay and discussion card will be played, hard and often – but a minister with good intentions can shut down the dissention, short circuit the delay and make the industry very happy by Christmas – if he set his mind to task and a shoulder to the wheel.

Toot - “FDS – Just get on with it” – toot.