Page 1385 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 1993
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Mr Stevenson: It is the capital S and the capital G. We know what self-government we refer to.
MR DE DOMENICO: Now we are getting back to semantics. I will not take any of those - - -
Mr Stevenson: The correct definition of the words. There is nothing more important.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, we are now starting to polarise a bit more. As I said, I would not ever dare to pre-empt the vote of this Assembly, but it seems to me, from what I have heard said so far, that we are likely very shortly - when I sit down, in fact, which should be sooner rather than later - to be voting on this motion and I am suggesting that Mr Stevenson will not be successful. It has been a very interesting debate. The Labor Party has played politics, saying, "Well done" and "Touche, touche".
Mr Berry: Gotcha.
MR DE DOMENICO: No, I would not say, "Gotcha". Have a look at the votes on other issues that are more important than this, Mr Berry, and see how you have gone. As I say, it has been a very interesting debate. Self-government is here to stay. We all know that it is here to stay. There is nothing wrong with going out to the community, who, after all, elect us, and saying, "Hey, listen, if you are not happy with the way we do things, have some input, and if we can we will take heed of what you say because, after all, we are supposed to be here to help you". Having said all that, Madam Speaker, it has been a very interesting debate, and I and the Liberal Party will not be supporting this motion.
MS SZUTY (4.50): Madam Speaker, I wish to make only four points in this debate. They have been covered to a degree by other speakers, but I wish to raise some new issues as well. The first point that I would like to make revolves around the use of words that Mr Stevenson has in this motion, namely, "replace our current state-like form of government". The point is, as Mr Wood said earlier, that we have both State government responsibilities, such as education, health and police, and local government responsibilities, such as roads and rubbish. When Mr Connolly expressed his views in this debate he articulated that difference very well.
The second point I wish to make supports Mr Kaine's view of the disadvantages of adopting a city council and lord mayor structure. We heard from Mr Kaine this morning on radio 2CN and again in this chamber that the ACT would be severely disadvantaged in major forums in Australia, most particularly Premiers Conferences. Again, Mr Wood made the point that our representation at other ministerial conferences around Australia on matters such as education, health and justice, for example, would be a problem for us. I would like to make the point that this would result in a major devaluing of the ACT in the eyes of other jurisdictions around Australia. I do not believe that that is something the ACT can afford at this time.
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