Page 4122 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991
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This motion seeks to debate the desirability of including in this Assembly's procedural processes a facility to permit citizen-initiated referenda. I hereby present the draft of a proposed Bill and I seek leave to table this document.
Leave granted.
MR PROWSE: The purpose of this Bill is to enable electors of the ACT to have the opportunity of exercising a constructive and positive role and to enhance the concept of individual and collective responsibility. This Bill provides for matters of community concern to be presented to the Legislative Assembly following a broad and representative expression of concern in the community and to give the electorate a say on the issues at the ballot-box. The provisions of the Bill ensure that the cost of this initiative is kept to a minimum. Electoral rolls, readily obtained from the Electoral Commissioner, provide the basic rolls. The cost is also negligible when a poll is held on the same day as a Territory election.
The proposal has met with approval and support from both sides of the political spectrum throughout Australia. Academics have found it refreshing, and people of commonsense have supported it. This Bill will provide an opportunity for all electors with a genuine interest in improving our system of government to make valuable contributions to the common good. Those who wish to see an enhancement of our democratic process have welcomed this proposal as practical, feasible and desirable.
This Bill does not seek to change radically our present governing systems. It does not seek to remove the right of parliament to legislate. It does not seek to remove the incentive of elected members to show initiative. It does not seek to slow or impede the legislative processes. It does not seek to drive divisions between parliamentarians and electors. It does not seek to damage our system of representative democracy. It does not seek to be able to remove individuals from office.
The Bill does seek to enhance the accurate representation of governments. It does seek to remove the undue influence that non-elected individuals or groups may have over parliament. It does have a genuine desire to see parliament take the initiative in legislation. It does seek to improve political awareness within the community and to increase community involvement in the decision making process. It does seek to achieve a better working relationship between electors and Assembly members.
It does seek to make decision making of parliament both easier and more representative. It does allow for a greater input of ideas from the community. It does help to make the community responsible for its decisions. It does encourage debate, thereby airing points of view that
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