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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2059 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

to put in the infrastructure, rather than the actual cameras themselves; whereas we are at the point where we need only to add the cameras. We have a control room at the back of the Assembly. I imagine many people who come here do not realise what is behind that black glass on the opposite side to the journalists gallery.

Mr Speaker, as is always the case when dealing with legislation in the Territory, I had a great deal of assistance from Parliamentary Counsel pointing out the pitfalls where I was proceeding at given times, making sure that I had met the Government's response to the report of the standing committee and ensuring that the legislation was drafted to take into account each and every one of those compromises that had been made. I would like to extend my thanks for the efforts that were put in there.

Mr Speaker, I think it is a very important day in terms of open government. I think it is a very important day in terms of the Assembly that we have unanimously agreed that we have reached the point at which we should now make sure that our proceedings are opened up even further. I hope that the decisions of the Speaker will be reasonably free when interpreting landmark or important debates. I think that many, if not most, of the debates that are held in this Assembly are particularly important, in that they affect so many lives and the way people go about their lives in this community. That, in itself, should mean that there should be a fairly open way of dealing with the guidelines.

Finally on the guidelines, I hope that the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure, of which I am a member, can deal with this very rapidly because, in fact, we had prepared guidelines for the last two debates. I think that about 95 per cent of the work has been done there. What is more, it has been tested and found to work reasonably successfully till now. In my discussions with members of the media, they have all been interested in taking a responsible approach to dealing with this.

Mr Whitecross: Always.

MR MOORE: They always take a responsible approach on anything. I hear Mr Whitecross's interjection. I think the most important thing is that, if somebody decides not to act in a responsible way at some stage, the tools are there for a slap over the knuckles. As much as I hope that does not occur, I think this will provide for a very successful system. I thank members for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

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