Page 1172 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 24 June 1992
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an issue to which the ACT does need to give attention. We need to take our place in every respect beside other States and Territories, and the adoption of these emblems, the adoption of a flag, is an important part of taking our place in that way.
There is quite a bit of history to do with the ACT's traditions and practices that I might point out briefly to members. As Mr Kaine mentioned, the city of Canberra does have a coat of arms. It is the one with which we are familiar and features the black and white swans. It appears on various flags around the city, but it is not the flag of the ACT. Nevertheless, because of the history of that coat of arms and because it was dedicated to the city of Canberra, it still has a place in our symbolism and we ought to find some place for that tradition. The ACT is not so overwhelmed with tradition and history that we want to throw out any of it. I would very much like to see at least that part of our tradition maintained.
The city also has some colours which have been nominated. They are blue and white, and again members might be familiar with those colours on various emblems. I do not believe that they are as well known as our traditional sporting colours of blue and gold, which are the ones you tend to see on teams representing the ACT. In fact, our city colours are blue and white. A further bit of tradition is the use of wahlenbergia gloriosa, or royal bluebell, as our floral emblem. Again, it is not a symbol that is widely known throughout our Territory. I think it ought to be; it is a particularly fitting symbol. It is pretty much exclusive to this region, unlike other bluebells, which are quite common. If we want to move in that direction, that is probably the floral emblem we should be looking at. To my knowledge, we do not actually have a faunal emblem, and that is a matter that I am sure members will have views on. I am quite sure that any debate on that matter would give rise to the usual level of wit. However, I point out to Mr Kaine that the hairy-nosed wombat is one of the faunal emblems of South Australia. So that one is taken, and we might still be stuck with a flock of galahs.
All of these matters, Madam Speaker, are of relevance. I think there is a very good case to be made for involving the community in some way in the selection of these symbols for our Territory. It is a matter I have had under consideration, and I have had some preliminary debate with some of my colleagues on it. No conclusions have been reached; it is probably not a matter upon which we would get consensus because people have such widely varying tastes and views. However, I will take Mr Kaine's hurry-up in the spirit in which I am sure it is intended and assure him that the Government will give the matter proper attention. I do regard it as a matter of significance to the ACT that we ought to be getting on with.
I think it is particularly important that we do this quite swiftly, because we are rapidly reaching the point where self-government is completed. This year we will be getting the courts; we have been asked to create our own public service. The matters for which the Commonwealth has responsibility have dwindled to almost nothing. In fact, as we all know, they have given us responsibility for our own electoral matters as well. So it is a good time to look at it. It is not a trivial issue. It is one to which all States and the Northern Territory have given the closest attention. If it is done right, it is a matter that I believe can build pride in our Territory, can build the identity of our Territory, and can be very important in creating cohesion in our community.
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