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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3412 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

The interesting point, Mr Speaker, about both the Northern Territory legislation and the legislation here in the ACT - the votes were in different directions - is that a huge amount of community consultation occurred. There was a tremendous amount of consultation. That was possible, as much as anything, because our legislatures - - -

Debate interrupted.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Humphries: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

Debate resumed.

MR MOORE: No matter what the outcome, the legislatures, because they are closer to the people, have gone through a tremendously complicated and long process of discussion and community involvement. Mr Speaker, it may well be that some people see faults in that community consultation. We will always see faults in one way or another, no matter where the debate goes. It may well be, Mr Speaker, that issues such as these do need to have some form of national focus, and it can be done in lots of ways. National focus, Mr Speaker, has been gained in terms of the gun laws, and I think most people give the Prime Minister credit for the approach that he has taken to getting uniform gun laws. So there are appropriate approaches which recognise the sovereignty of democracy, which recognise that our democracies are elected on a universal adult franchise.

These are matters of great moment. These are important issues that the Senate committee has identified. Mr Speaker, the ideal situation here is that, without dissent, this house support this motion that Ms Follett has put up. Then, Mr Speaker, I would like to see you write to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate and draw their attention to such a resolution from the Assembly. That would be an appropriate outcome and an appropriate role for you.

Mr Speaker, this matter brought before the Assembly by Ms Follett is one of great moment. It is about a fundamental right of people to elect their members on issues that have been put before them in an election. Do not forget that it was through an election that these issues were put to the people. Some of us were elected one way, some of us were elected another way, knowing that these issues were to be debated in this Assembly.

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