Page 645 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 4 July 1989
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the Governor-General with respect to the retention or amendment of Bills? Does the Governor-General talk to the Chief Minister or do we receive our rebuff through the Minister for Territories? I believe that, if the latter is the case, our Assembly should strongly demand redress of this imposition. Another question: What is the order of precedence? There are many other questions that must be answered before a legal challenge occurs, not afterwards. Should there be some mechanism for the ACT Executive to offer advice to His Excellency? Without expanding, I shall simply say that I feel these questions should be closely examined.
In summary, Mr Deputy Speaker, I shall again say that I support the setting up of this proposed select committee of inquiry. Issues which it will address are, I suggest, vital to the good government and well-being of the citizens of the ACT and I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR MOORE (9.14): I have just a few remarks on some of the comments that were made about this particular motion. The Chief Minister in particular talked about accessible, open and efficient government, and we will be very pleased to see when she has finally achieved these aims. The goals, of course, are the same goals that the Residents Rally has been interested in, and we will be looking forward to ensuring that they come about. I would like to make some comments particularly about the electoral system and the counting of our votes. Mr Wood drew attention to some of the problems with the counting that took two months. Let me remind members that we were warned about that long count by the Electoral Commission when that system was being put together, and its warning in fact came to pass.
With reference to the counting on the weekends and so forth, I understand there were a number of reasons why that was the case and I am sure that there is some truth in a general direction by the Electoral Commission. But let me say specifically that our scrutineers, particularly my wife who spent many, many hours as a scrutineer with those officers, assured us time and time again that what was being done was being done as quickly as possible and it was being done with due care. I think that this Assembly should recognise the very accurate and important job that those public servants did and ensure that they do not feel a criticism of this Assembly on them.
I would also like to support this motion in the same way my colleague Mr Jensen has and support his ideas, particularly with reference to the relationship between the Commonwealth and the ACT and the finances for that.
MR HUMPHRIES (9.16): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to indicate that in my view this motion is appropriate and, as Mr Kaine, the Leader of the Opposition, has indicated already, will be supported by us. I might say also I think it is appropriate that the motion does provide a reference for the committee to come back to the Assembly with a report by
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