Page 929 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 March 1991
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a number of issues, including the necessity to control financial management. It was a very important matter that I discussed with members of the Board in the last two weeks. That has not been in the form of a written direction to them - that would be unnecessary, in my view - but I have certainly discussed that with members of the Board of Health.
Electoral System
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Chief Minister. In view of the difficulties the amendments to the ACT electoral legislation are likely to face in Federal Parliament, does the Chief Minister support current sentiments suggesting support for a referendum on the ACT electoral system?
MR KAINE: Yes. In fact, the Government is on record on numerous occasions as proposing that the most democratic and equitable way to address the ACT electoral system is to allow a referendum to be conducted so that the ACT people can express their views. That is not only the view of the Government; I also have publicly expressed my support for such a referendum on many occasions. In fact, I did so most recently when we were discussing a matter of public importance on the ACT electoral system in this chamber on 19 February. So, my position is on record and has been for a long time. The Government's view is on record and has been for a long time.
More than that, the principle was expressed in the Government's response last year to the report of the Assembly's Select Committee on Self-Government. The report, including the recommendation that a referendum be held, was adopted by this Assembly and has been referred to the Federal Minister for Territories, Mr David Simmons, for his information. So, there is no question that the Minister is well informed both on the Assembly's view and on my own view.
I was quite fascinated this morning to hear that there was a new initiative from Ms Follett for a referendum. I do not know where she has been for the last year while everybody else in the world has been talking about it. Suddenly she pulls this out and says, "This is a new Follett initiative for a referendum". I was quite astonished that she has obviously been totally switched off to what has been going on around her for so long. I must say that I was delighted to hear her expressing her support for the idea. I would be delighted if she could persuade her Federal colleagues to face up to the electoral chaos they have created for the ACT and allow the people of the ACT - - -
Mrs Grassby: We did not create it; it was the Federal Liberal Party.
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