drive cars.

And Opposition leader Sen. Maxwell Burgess objected to the bill being read after it was introduced by Sen. David Burch .

Sen. Burgess said afterwards he had no problem with the bill -- just the way it was raced through the legislative process.

He added: "I served notice when I objected to it being read. It was more to serve as a marker to Government that this cannot be the way going forward when they rush legislation through.

"And -- they will have appreciation of this word -- they do that at their peril.'' The bill passed the House of Assembly last week despite breaking the convention that two weeks must pass between a bill being tabled and it being debated and voted on.

Government relied on the House rule that only four days has to pass before a bill comes up for debate, although the general practice has been that two weeks are allowed for Opposition to examine legislation and consult with constituents.

Sen. Burgess added that Government had talked of inclusiveness and consultation.

He said: "They have to be satisfied that all parties have been consulted -- but if they rush along like this, they will end up doing so at their peril.'' He was speaking after Senate passed the Motor Car Amendment (No. 2) Bill 1998.

The Act will allow people who are not members of a household where a car is registered to legally drive the vehicle -- unlike at present where only the registered owner and others living at the same address can use it.

Sen. Burgess said: "It will have great advantages which we will see going forward -- but we can't have this haste with the kind of legislation I see coming forward in due course.'' But he added: "Government have a responsibility to make sure that not only they have an appreciation of legislation which is being passed, but that the public get to buy in as well.'' He admitted his objection was a formal one because it was not seconded and backed by other Members.

But Sen. Burgess said: "This is a relatively innocuous piece of legislation -- but there may be other things coming forward and the last thing I want is someone saying to me `you didn't object last time'. It's a question of common courtesy. You can't expect the public to be courteous when you're not prepared to be so yourself.''