Page 251 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 May 1989
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officials were happy to consult there were others responsible for other important decisions affecting the community that could not do so. It seemed to be something that they could not come to grips with.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, when I was asked by Mr Collaery to join him in the Rally in seeking to provide a voice for the community groups like those participating in the Tuggeranong Community Council, I agreed to do so willingly - and the rest, as they say, is history.
In these final moments allowed to me in this debate, I feel it is important to recognise my family. Unfortunately, because of changes in arrangements for this Assembly, my wife is unable to be here today, but she was present last week when I was due to give this speech. I would like to say a huge thankyou to my wife Wendy and my children, who supported my decision to run for this Assembly. This was despite periods during the campaign and that long period before we finally took up our seats in this place which, as I am sure many of you here today will attest, were was not easy.
I look forward, Mr Speaker, to the challenge ahead. The Rally will be doing its best to ensure that this Assembly provides responsive, open and thrifty government that is in the best interests of our fellow citizens of this great city in which we live.
Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wrote to you last week or the week before about the nature of these what I call maiden speeches and what others would call inaugural speeches. I note that you advised me by letter that you would treat these speeches in reply to the Chief Minister's statement on the Executive's objectives as maiden speeches. I note that during the speech by Mr Jensen a number of interjections occurred. I would ask you to ask members of the chamber not to interject during maiden speeches and to uphold a tradition which goes back many decades, if not centuries, regarding the making of maiden speeches.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Humphries, I do accept your point of order.
MR STEVENSON (4.21): Mr Speaker, fellow members, ladies and gentlemen, we have witnessed something that few people see in their entire lives: the birth of a government. Normally, when such a matter was proposed, it would lead to great pride in the people and indeed celebration. First, it would have involved citizens in much consultation and decision, certainly in the type of government that was to be formed and the number of members that would represent them in the electoral system and perhaps most importantly in the constitution of that government.
It was unfortunate that Canberrans were not allowed this opportunity, and we understand why that was. It was well-
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