Page 2933 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 September 1994
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COMMUNITY INITIATED REFERENDUMS - SELECT COMMITTEE
Appointment
MS SZUTY (4.13): I move:
That -
(1) a Select Committee on Community Initiated Referendums be appointed to inquire into and report on:
(i) the Community Referendum Bill 1994 and
(ii) the Electors Initiative and Referendum Bill 1994;
(2) during the course of its inquiry the Committee shall have regard to the political context, rationale for, implementation and operation of similar processes both within and outside Australia;
(3) the Committee shall consist of 3 members, 1 from the Government, 1 from the Opposition and 1 independent member, each of whom shall be nominated to the Speaker in writing by 4.00 pm, 15 September 1994;
(4) the Committee shall report by 18 November 1994;
(5) if the Assembly is not sitting when the Committee has completed its inquiry, the Committee may send its report to the Speaker, or in the absence of the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, who is authorised to give directions for its printing and circulation;
(6) on the Committee presenting its report to the Assembly, resumption of debate on the question "That this Bill be agreed to in principle" for the Community Referendum Bill 1994 and the Electors Initiative and Referendum Bill 1994 be set down as an order of the day for the next sitting; and
(7) the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.
Madam Speaker, I have proposed that the Assembly establish a Select Committee on Community Initiated Referendums for what I believe are sound and justifiable reasons, and I would like to expand on those reasons now. Again, the Assembly is in a position where it is considering landmark legislation, as it has done in the past with regard to prostitution, euthanasia and the establishment of smoke-free areas in enclosed public places, to name but three instances. In each of these circumstances, proposals were referred to committees, which have achieved varying results.
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