Page 5 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 May 1989
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members and committees are to have the same powers, privileges and immunities as those for the time being of the House of Representatives.
With that background and in order that the Assembly be able to function from the first sitting day, steps were taken to prepare the draft standing orders appropriate to an Assembly of this size recognising its relationship to the Executive as set out in the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act.
The standing orders were prepared in consultation with officers of the ACT Administration, the Department of the House of Representatives and the Assembly Secretariat.
While the proposed standing orders draw to a large extent on the practice of the House of Representatives, including recent developments, revisions and interpretations, they have been substantially modified to take account of experience gained in other small legislatures such as those of the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island.
Every endeavour has been made to simplify procedures and to eliminate unnecessary practice and archaic language. Those involved in the drafting believe that the standing orders will provide a readily understood and appropriate set of rules for the initial sittings of the Legislative Assembly.
The proposed standing orders provide for the appointment of a procedures committee which will have the task of considering the standing orders and the practices and procedures of the Assembly and recommending any amendments considered desirable. At all times the Assembly will be in control of its rules and the procedures committee will be the forum through which members may raise suggestions and concerns. It is expected that the committee will report from time to time recommending any changes it considers necessary.
I believe it is important for the Assembly to adopt standing orders now so that it will have a structured parliamentary framework in which to undertake its deliberations and discharge its legislative duties. In doing so, the Assembly should not feel bound to retain these standing orders without critical review and change
where necessary.
Motion (by Ms Follett) proposed:
That the standing orders tabled this day by the Presiding Officer be adopted as the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory.
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