Page 2995 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 September 1993
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The trust is carrying out such a clean-up at the moment and has asked some families to clean up excess articles by early October. Families have been advised that if that does not occur the trust may clean it up themselves. I would expect that there would be a level of sensitivity in the one-to-one relationships with the families. I expect that my public servants act in that manner. If members hear to the contrary, please let me know and we will address it in the ordinary process. But this is a longstanding rule. It is designed to keep the lawn feel for those families who specifically wanted that lawn area and to prevent the lawn area becoming like the more conventional area of the cemetery, and families are aware of that when they sign the lease for the lawn area.
Flags - Distribution
MR CORNWELL: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, I refer to your letter of 20 July to all members about the availability of ACT flags and I note your comment therein. I quote:
Arrangements have been put in place for the future distribution of ACT flags, so that community organisations may deal with ACTGS agencies they have direct contact with - eg the ACT Office of Sport and Recreation will provide flags on request to ACT sporting organisations.
My question, Chief Minister, is this: If these sporting or, for that matter, cultural or community organisations apply for a flag through a member of the Opposition or an independent member, will the flag be provided to that opposition or independent member for presentation to the organisation, or will it be presented only by a Minister or government member? In other words, Chief Minister, is the Government using, or proposing to use, the distribution of flags for political purposes?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I thank Mr Cornwell for the question. May I say, first of all, Madam Speaker, that the flags have proved tremendously popular. We have had a large number of requests for them. All of the organisations to whom I have given flags have expressed their intense approval of the fact that this Territory now has its own flag. They believe that it will identify them appropriately and make them even more proud of this Territory when they are travelling or when they have visiting teams or visiting organisations. The flag, as a symbol of unity and pride in this Territory, has been a great success. Of course, all members of the Assembly were part of that process, so it is a tribute to everybody that it is such a success.
Madam Speaker, I have put in place arrangements for people to apply for flags, if they wish to, through ACT Government Service agencies and, particularly in the case of sport, that often occurs; but I am quite happy to entertain any other request for a flag. As yet, I have not received any from members of the Assembly. It seems to me that, if organisations have a particular preference, then it is up to them to express that preference, and I will certainly consider any such request that is made to me. It is my intention that the new flag of the Territory fly wherever it is possible for it to fly throughout the Territory - I have had any number of comments on how attractive it looks flying - and also that as many as possible of our community have access to that flag so that it becomes well known and it becomes another loved symbol of this community.
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