Page 2921 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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As a matter of law, a Minister may exercise the executive powers of the Territory without necessarily being a member of the Cabinet. The Act does not stipulate a procedure for conveying any such resolution to the Governor-General and/or the Federal Executive Council. However, standing orders 268 through to 271 refer to this possibility and lay down the procedure to be followed in the Assembly. Hence the Speaker could present the motion in the form of an address to the Governor-General.
It is also appropriate that the Chief Minister should communicate the effect of the resolution to the Prime Minister and, of course, indicate his decision on the size of the ministry. As a matter of courtesy, the Chief Minister could also write to Mrs Ros Kelly, the Commonwealth Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories. However, I have noted with dismay Mrs Kelly's intemperate remarks to the effect that she would not support such a resolution of this Assembly. It would appear that Mrs Kelly has disqualified herself from giving free and objective consideration to the outcome of today's Assembly vote. Mrs Kelly has said that regardless of any expression of the democratic will of this Assembly, she will not entertain the idea. This is a most imprudent step for a Commonwealth Minister to take and again demonstrates, in my view, her failure to adequately understand the notion of self-government in the Territory. Her reaction is paternal, dismissive and prejudicial to the welfare and well-being of the ACT. In the meantime, I think it is entirely inappropriate for her to contribute in Cabinet or otherwise to a consideration of this resolution, bearing in mind her preset views on the subject.
I am aware from Labor Party circles that Mrs Kelly intends to block the early effect of this resolution by offering to amend the self-government Act through the Federal Parliament rather than allow us the quick process of a regulation which could be made immediately. I believe that the interests of the ACT should be above political gamesmanship.
Mr Wood: This is a vote of no confidence in your own ministry.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Wood interjects and says it is a vote of no confidence in the Alliance Government. The prerogative for moving a motion of no confidence in the Alliance Government lies in this house and Mr Wood should try to remind himself which parliament he is sitting in. He thinks he is on the hill, obviously. I am also aware that the majority of Federal Ministers have no wish to interfere and I repeat this for the information of our junior Labor politicians in the ACT. I am also aware that the majority of Federal Labor Ministers have no wish to interfere either way on this issue.
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