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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (23 November) . . Page.. 2313 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (10.38): I present the Remuneration Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 1995, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MRS CARNELL: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, this Bill introduces transitional and consequential provisions as a result of the Remuneration Tribunal Bill 1995. The Bill's transitional provision retains the operation of determinations of the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal until they are displaced by determinations of the proposed ACT Remuneration Tribunal. The Bill also makes consequential amendments to some ACT laws to remove references to the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal and to other procedures, such as regulations, used to set remuneration. In future, the procedure for setting remuneration for the relevant offices and appointees will be under the proposed Remuneration Tribunal Act. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Ms Follett) adjourned.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (10.40): Mr Speaker, I present the Community Referendum Bill 1995, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, it is with some pride that I introduce this legislation today. This Bill marks a major milestone in the evolution of democracy in Australia. It will put into effect the principles of giving average people the right to initiate their own laws and the right to vote on those laws. This pioneering legislation reflects the Government's commitment to the principle that the people, not governments, have the ultimate sovereignty. It will empower ordinary electors to have a genuine say in the laws that govern them. The idea has been well tested overseas. Various versions of direct democracy have been operating successfully for several years in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Austria and the United States. Last year New Zealand introduced its own Citizens Initiated Referenda Act. No country or State which has introduced a formal process of direct democracy has ever voted to get rid of it.

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