Page 1366 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 1993
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MR WOOD: Since that time when Mr Kaine was censured for supporting self-government he has not changed; he is honourable and consistent. The Liberal Party has adopted a policy of self-government that they would now dump, at a moment's notice, if they thought there was even one vote in it for them. That is the approach they have. It is quite clear in all this debate that Mrs Carnell is favourably disposed to the idea of a council. If you listen to her, if you read - - -
Mrs Carnell: I did not say that at all.
MR WOOD: No; I know that you are running a mile from it now, but the whole impact has been that this is worth thinking about. You certainly have not said, "We are going to have it". You have said, "We are going to think about it". The whole strategy clearly has been to talk up this issue to win something in the community. Mrs Carnell is presenting this nice soft face: "We will listen to you, the community, and do away with self-government; what better idea is there?". That is very much the strategy behind this.
It was interesting that in her speech she said that we need, I think - you can correct me - an appropriate debate, a planned debate, a planned discussion. Well, it did not start very well, because Mr Kaine gave you a caning as there was nothing planned around the weekend summit. He pointed out to the person who interviewed him that there was not a great deal of discussion about this; that there appears to be no planning. He was quite surprised by the way Mrs Carnell had taken on board this issue. So the conflict in the party continues. Yesterday they were at least flagellating themselves and conceding that they had never been very good at consultation. I do not think that bland words, trying to pick up a theme in the community to attract some support, will do them any good at all.
I come back to what form of government we should have in the ACT. Mrs Carnell said that we should do things differently.
Mrs Carnell: If that is what the community wants, yes.
MR WOOD: Where have you been? We have done things differently. This is an Assembly which is very different from anything else that operates in Australia. There is a great deal of support across Australia, certainly in rhetoric, for doing away with one level of government. We have done that. This is two levels of government in one, and that is a popular concept around the country, as I say.
Mr Humphries: But not in the ACT.
MR WOOD: So that is very different indeed.
Mr De Domenico: It is popular in Tumbarumba.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition sat down when there was a bit of noise going on before. Her team may like to remember that.
MR WOOD: I do not think I interjected once, Madam Speaker. This Assembly, unique now with Queensland and the Northern Territory, has but one chamber. That is very different. This Assembly, unique around Australia, has an outstanding committee system. We have a very different system in the ACT, and it is one that I am sure many people would look at with favour because of the way it works.
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