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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 359 ..

MS TUCKER: The question of participatory democracy is obviously one, Mr Moore, and I have different views on it. I have had for a long time. I notice since Mr Moore has become a Liberal Minister that he has become even less inclined to take much interest in what the community thinks about issues, and I am very disappointed to see that happen.

In conclusion, I want to say that if this debate does occur I do not believe it will serve the Chief Minister or her Government well at all. I think it is quite clear already that it is a political stunt, as Mr Kaine so clearly pointed out, but I would be happy to take the opportunity to discuss these other serious issues about how we can meaningfully involve people of this Assembly and the community in these discussions.

MR RUGENDYKE: Mr Speaker, I seek leave for my five minutes of fame also.

Leave granted.

MR RUGENDYKE: Mr Speaker, I believe that this motion came out of the Assembly's rejection of the sale of ACTEW. It is, in fact, quite a cunning stunt. Having said that without the Freudian slip, I would like to say that the Chief Minister, through the media, said of the crossbenchers who rejected the sale of ACTEW that our vote was taken with all care but no responsibility. I took that quite personally and when I saw this motion I thought, "Okay, I will take up the challenge. There might be one or two things here that I might be able to have a small amount of input into", but my economic knowledge is nowhere near the standard that is obviously required for a completely intelligent response. It would also be interesting to hear the views of other members of the Assembly on this issue. So I will support the motion.

MR SPEAKER: Do you wish to join in, Mr Osborne?

MR OSBORNE: Yes. Do I need to seek leave, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Yes.

Leave granted.

MR OSBORNE: This is an interesting proposal put up by the Chief Minister. I think we as an Assembly need to consider our options in relation to how we do handle the budget. One of the things that have always intrigued me has been how governments have come down in an Assembly such as this, which has always been a minority government Assembly, and placed a budget on the table and said, "You either vote for the lot or it's a vote of no confidence". Quite clearly, Mr Speaker, I believe that all of us in this place need to start to take more responsibility for some of the decisions that we make. All of us.

I think the budget process has to change. One of the things that concern me is that three people, technically, can control how every dollar is spent in the Territory. If the Chief Minister, Mr Humphries and Mr Moore, for example, were to - - -

Mr Humphries: It is you three, is it not?

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