Page 2926 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 September 1994
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Mr Lamont: A register.
MR STEVENSON: Yes. That would mean that people who have a special interest in a particular area could be notified via a little newsletter. You do not have to send them a great deal of information; you simply notify them that there is a proposed Bill, that there has been a ministerial statement made, that there is a committee of inquiry proposed on something. Over a period of a few years you would build up an extensive list of people who do not want to know about everything but specifically want to know about certain areas. It would be an extremely effective way of letting people know; one of the reasons being that, although you would not get to everybody, the people you got to could be expected to talk to a lot of other people that are concerned about that specific interest. That is one thing that could be done to set up the first part, before you start working together. It is making sure that both sides, or all parties, know what the ground rules are, know what the information is on a particular subject.
Another thing that should be done, and could very easily be done, is that we should have in our community regular debates according to standard debating rules where you have three people from both sides given the same time, with independent chairmen - - -
Mr Lamont: Take a straw poll at Speakers Corner in the park.
MR STEVENSON: Well said. I will digress here. Mr Lamont said that one could take a straw poll of people down at Speakers Corner in Glebe Park. Speakers Corner starts next Sunday.
Mr Lamont: Last Sunday.
MR STEVENSON: Next Sunday. Were you there?
Mr Lamont: No; it was in the paper. I saw the advertisement; I saw the photo today.
MR STEVENSON: I can tell you, on good authority, that it will not be starting until the 18th. There had been an intention to start it earlier, but it will be starting on the 18th. The first one is going to be next Sunday. The idea of having public debates is a very good one. You can have people present the well-prepared argument, as is done in debates, and take on arguments from the other side, and at the end of the debate you could allow questions from the audience. When they are directed to one side, the other side also has an opportunity - - -
Mr Lamont: Can I ask you a question about the tie? Is it true that that is the official emblem of the no self-government party now?
MR STEVENSON: No. But I am glad that you brought the matter up. I do not know whether I could have waited much longer. I was going to bring in a big sign that said, "I knew that Lamont would do it". But I felt, "Why worry? I will save it, because they will know that I mean it anyway". Let me mention that, as members know, once upon a time I committed the unforgivable sin of saying that this was a mickey mouse Assembly.
MADAM SPEAKER: You do not need to say it again, Mr Stevenson.
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