Page 100 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
this Assembly as it is now constituted. It is unique, but then again Canberra is a unique place. We have a duty, as members of this initial Assembly, to make it work for the community, because there is still a large number of people out there who do not agree with the idea of self-government and with this Assembly. I believe that there is a lot this Assembly can do and a lot that self-government can do for Canberra, but we have to convince a lot of Canberrans of that.
It is a unique result, Mr Speaker, and indeed perhaps - as my colleague, Mr Wood, has just said - the traditional parliamentary type of democracy in Australia may not be terribly appropriate, although that is what we have. I know that, during the two-month process leading up to our inauguration, there was talk of a collegiate system of government. Perhaps as my leader, Mr Kaine, indicated in his speech there is room, and has been for several weeks, for an arrangement where basically all parties contribute and matters go on the floor of the house for discussion. That envisages everyone having an input and, because we have to have a Chief Minister and Ministers, there would be one from each of the groupings here. However, that is not the case. We have a Government up and running and it behoves all of us to do our best to make this Assembly work.
Since I threw my hat in the ring for election to this Assembly, I see my main role as that of a local member who will listen to the constituents, who will go in to bat for them when they have a problem and who will be available to them. It is in that regard that I have set up a community office that operates from 10.00 am till 2.00 pm on Monday morning at the Weston Creek Community Centre. I intend manning that, as well as the office here, so that I can get input from the community in which I live.
I am gladdened and heartened to hear that all members so far today, and indeed the Chief Minister in her speech, indicate that the Assembly, and all members of it, are to be accessible to the public. I hope all members continue to do that and continue to be accessible to the public. Because Canberra is a small city, many of us know many people in Canberra, many people know us, and we simply do have to be accessible.
I turn now to a few matters raised in the Chief Minister's speech by way of policy. There are a few points I wish to raise. The first relates to the private sector. In the past, until recently, 60 per cent of employees in Canberra were employed by the government. That figure is now about 50-50 and the trend is changing. For self-government to work and for Canberra to continue to go ahead the private sector must be encouraged; it is our future. Some points there in the Chief Minister's speech referred to that aspect and I am gladdened by it.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .