Page 2200 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 3 August 2021
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MR DAVIS: Minister, will the multipurpose community centre that is planned for Gungahlin include spaces for community groups to book for classes?
MS CHEYNE: That is a question for the Chief Minister.
MR BARR: As the project is developed, there will be an opportunity for community engagement in relation to the internal spaces and configuration within the new centre. So it is quite likely that that particular use would be able to be accommodated within the new centre.
Territory rights—voluntary assisted dying
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Human Rights. Minister, can you please update the Assembly on the action taken following the motion passed on 31 March in relation to territory rights?
MS CHEYNE: Restoring territory rights is about our democratic rights. It is about giving citizens in the ACT and the Northern Territory the same rights as those who live in the states. Since the ACT Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the motion on 31 March, I continue to press the case—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MS CHEYNE: It is the last question, Madam Speaker. Come on—not to you—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members.
MS CHEYNE: I have continued to press the case and momentum is building. Last month the Northern Territory Attorney-General and I published an opinion piece in the Canberra Times calling on the federal government to finally show some leadership on this issue and restore our territory rights. It would be nice if they would respond to our letter as well.
I am pleased to see so many Canberrans supporting territory rights and the Canberra Times launching their own “our right to decide” campaign. We have received some valuable support from across the political spectrum over the past little while. Federal minister Simon Birmingham, for example, put his support for territory rights on the record back in 2019. Last week Mr Rattenbury and Mrs Jones were both great panel members at the Politics in the Pub discussing territory rights. The federal Labor representatives for the ACT have all been particularly vocal in support of territory rights. For example, Andrew Leigh recently sponsored a private member’s motion—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, do not distract someone when they are on the floor.
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