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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4651 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Mr Osborne spoke about putting up a petition in this place, for which he had 42,000 signatures, opposing the Government's plans on shopping hours. First of all, as it happened, that petition did influence the result in this place and we did get a change on the shopping hours legislation. But, if you can get 42,000 signatures on a petition, why can you not get 42,000 signatures - - -

Ms McRae: It had nothing to do with voters; it had nothing to do with numbers; never! What about your polls? Tell us about your polls.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I do not mind speaking, but not against a barrage that I cannot talk over.

MR SPEAKER: No, I know. It is late. They are missing their beauty sleep or something.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am answering the points that have just been raised.

Mrs Carnell: The point they are making is exactly the right one. We respond to the community.

MR HUMPHRIES: This is exactly the point. That is an example of where you respond to the electorate. If people get 42,000 signatures on a petition, they get their referendum. They get their referendum, and they get the thing decided at that opportunity.

Mr Kaine: It does not matter how much money they have.

MR HUMPHRIES: That is right. Money is not an issue. They get the result they want in that way. Mr Speaker, that is the point that is being made.

Mr Speaker, the other point I want to address is this argument by Mr Moore that we have minorities being overlooked in a situation where referenda get up, and people vote on things and they vote down the rights of minorities. I want to use an argument which I think will appeal to many of those people on the left of politics in this chamber.

Mrs Carnell: Me?

MR HUMPHRIES: Not quite, no.

Mr Whitecross: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mrs Carnell has just misled the chamber. She said that she was on the left of politics, and she is clearly on the right.

MR SPEAKER: I think you all have, actually, with possibly my exception.

MR HUMPHRIES: You are editorialising there, Mr Whitecross. Mr Speaker, we have been told that direct democracy has the chance to override the views and the interests of minorities. It is quite possible that we will be going to a double dissolution election in this country in the next six to nine months, based on the issues about Wik, and my prediction is - - -

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