Page 3571 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 19 October 1993
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In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the many people in our community who have worked so hard over the past decade to bring the relationship between Canberra and Nara to a point where the Government is able to recognise the special nature of that relationship. I present a copy of this statement, and I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MR KAINE (3.12): Madam Speaker, I would like to comment briefly on the Chief Minister's statement. First of all, I think it goes without saying that I strongly support the twinning of Canberra and Nara. It is a matter that has been on the agenda for many years. It had my support when I was Chief Minister, and it still has. I agree entirely with the benefits that the Chief Minister identifies and that can flow from this kind of relationship.
I am also delighted to hear that the Chief Minister intends to pursue other twinning proposals. I am sure that there are many cities throughout the world, perhaps some of them in those areas that we sometimes refer to as the Third World, that could benefit. We may not benefit so greatly, except in terms of the cultural exchange; but we could perhaps provide a benefit for cities in some of those areas of the world that are not as advanced technologically as we are. In seeking to find other cities with which to twin, perhaps the Chief Minister will look to some of those areas of the world rather than the more affluent ones.
Finally, Madam Speaker, I note that the Chief Minister refers to a program of activities to enhance the sister city relationship. I would ask the Chief Minister whether or not she is also working on such a program of activities to enhance the relationship that has existed for some years between us and Versailles, which seems somehow to have slipped into obscurity as far as the Government is concerned. There are people in the private sector who work assiduously at maintaining the relationship between the two cities. Given the Chief Minister's enthusiasm for the twinning arrangement with Nara, which I know is genuine, and that a program of activities will be developed for Nara, which I am sure will be most beneficial, I would like to see also some initiatives on the part of the Government to develop that same kind of relationship with Versailles, rather than the Government allowing that relationship to languish. Madam Speaker, I welcome this proposal and all such initiatives on the part of the Government to establish twinning arrangements with other cities.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
SCRUTINY OF BILLS AND SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION -
STANDING COMMITTEE
Report and Statement
MRS GRASSBY: I present report No. 18 of 1993 of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation, and I ask for leave to make a brief statement.
Leave granted.
MRS GRASSBY: Report No. 18 contains the committee's comments on six Bills, one piece of subordinate legislation and four Government responses. I commend the report to the Assembly.
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