Page 256 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 May 1989
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MR PROWSE (4.37): Mr Deputy Speaker, this is indeed an historic event in more ways than one. Obviously, the first Legislative Assembly for the ACT, resulting from the decision of the Federal Parliament that the people of the ACT must become self-governing, has stirred the people of the ACT to polarise into those for, and those opposed to, self-government.
Some had vested interests in the status quo. Others had vested interests in self-government. However, in the main, the majority of people took their stance based on what they considered to be the best interests of the city-state we all love. I was voted into this Assembly by people opposed to self-government. Obviously, all of these were defectors from established parties - myself included. I must add that I have always been a swinging voter who has voted on the issues as I have seen them.
People are opposed to this Assembly for the following reasons: resistance to change and fear of the unknown; a belief that state-style responsibilities for such things as health and education cannot be economically managed by our small population, and therefore municipal-style government is more appropriate to the ACT; belief that this Assembly will be filled by politicians who become non-responsive to the wishes of the public except for the period immediately before an election; and last, but by no means least, good people of all political persuasions are incensed by the dictatorial attitude of the Federal politicians who, despite a referendum to the contrary, are on record as saying that the people of the ACT will have self-government whether they want it or not.
Mr Deputy Speaker, these issues are very real and ongoing. Although opposed to self-government for some of the reasons listed above, I am for good government, and I applaud my fellow members of the Assembly because I have now come to realise that we are all like-minded on this issue. Therefore, in realisation of the fact that on 4 March the voters of Canberra did not give the No Self Government Party a majority vote such as would have enabled us to demand repeal of the ACT (Self-Government) Act by the Federal Parliament, we of the NSG will seek the indulgence of the Assembly to hold an inquiry into the form of self-government best suited to the ACT. This inquiry would be open to submissions from the public and, upon the report of the committee, such action as recommended in the report would be implemented forthwith.
I do not see this as demeaning of the good and honest efforts of my fellow Assembly members. What I do see is that this inquiry will induce us all to go back to the doubting members of the public, present our case, and thereby educate the people of Canberra as to the worth of self-government.
I look forward to the possibility that the recommendation from the inquiry will be that a referendum of the people of
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