Page 2420 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 1991
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Turning to the reviews of human services, I believe that these are a particularly important issue from an ACT perspective and provide a national focus for addressing ways in which we can deliver better services to the community. In promoting effective and coordinated working arrangements between the different levels of government, I consider it essential to ensure that the interests and concerns of the community are addressed. Only then can the objectives of new federalism be translated into practical reforms which improve people's daily lives. At my instigation the communique from the July conference reflects the need for effective community consultation to take place as an important part of the review process.
Mr Speaker, the ACT also has a particular role to play in relation to the reforms of heavy vehicle registration, regulation and charging. This role relates to the way in which legislation can be implemented to set up the National Road Transport Commission. Through their signature to the agreement relating to the commission, the other parties to the agreement have asked us to agree to have legislation enacted in the ACT, which would then be adopted by other jurisdictions. This would be achieved by our agreeing to allow the Commonwealth to use its constitutional power to legislate in the ACT.
While this would create particular circumstances for the ACT, I should emphasise that in all other respects our participation in the scheme would be on an equal basis with other jurisdictions. For example, our voting rights on the ministerial council which will oversee the national scheme would be equivalent to those of New South Wales or Victoria. In agreeing to the approach I have described, it would also be necessary to ensure that certain safeguards were put in place to protect our distinctive position. For example, in view of our geographical location, I believe that it would be essential to make our agreement conditional upon New South Wales becoming and remaining a participant in the commission.
Mr Speaker, as I have already indicated, the establishment of a National Road Transport Commission is a major area of reform which will lead to the increased efficiency of the road transport system. Together with the other jurisdictions, we stand to gain real benefits from those efficiencies. But the proposed approach also provides an opportunity for us in the ACT to make a unique contribution to the reform process. Perhaps most significantly, it allows us to gain recognition as a self-governing territory in the eyes of other jurisdictions, at a time when we are still at a relatively early stage of self-government.
For these reasons, Mr Speaker, I consider it important that we take the step of agreeing to the legislative implementation of the scheme through a parliamentary process, and that the Assembly resolve to adopt the approach that I have described.
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