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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 76 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

I reiterate that the Labor Party supports the principle of the broadcasting of proceedings, especially when we have a landmark debate such as we are talking about on this occasion. We believe it is appropriate that we make our proceedings as accessible as possible to the general community in this way. I finish by endorsing Mr Moore's remarks. The committee process has been used well on this issue to deliberate on these matters. It is an example of the kind of successful use of the committee process which does not get much attention when people criticise the proceedings of this place.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MR WHITECROSS (Leader of the Opposition) (5.27): Mr Speaker, I rise in the adjournment debate to speak in memory of a well-known and dedicated member of the ACT branch of the Australian Labor Party and the ACT trade union movement, Mr Brett Seaman, who was hit by a car and killed while riding his bicycle at Merimbula on the New South Wales south coast on 30 January this year.

Brett Seaman grew up in Sydney and Wollongong, New South Wales. Upon completion of his higher school certificate, he joined the merchant navy as an officer cadet for two years. He left that career behind to move back to New South Wales and later studied arts at the University of Wollongong. His success as a student earned him a university medal. In 1991 Brett moved to Canberra, where he immediately became involved in the local political and trade union movement. He joined a local sub-branch of the Labor Party and held positions of secretary and president. At the time of his death he held the position of president of the sub-branch.

Brett was a tireless campaigner during elections and worked hard to achieve what he strongly believed in - social justice and equity in Australian society. Brett commenced work as an industrial officer and organiser with the ACT branch of the Community and Public Sector Union in 1992. He was a dedicated organiser who consistently chalked up results for his members. In 1994 Brett became the ACT government union liaison officer in ACT Health, bringing his knowledge, skills and intellect to improving industrial relations between the ACT Government and the trade union movement.

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