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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 6 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1585 ..
MS CARNELL (continuing):
What does it look like 10 years on? Over the past 10 years this Assembly has managed to find a way to preserve the things that are important about our city and to start to live within our means. The Assembly has adopted award-winning financial management reforms which have been applauded by the accounting profession and the wider community as being at the leading edge and setting the benchmark for accountability and management of government funds. In fact, the Commonwealth Government this afternoon will bring down their first accrual budget. After several years of unsustainable operating losses the Territory is expected to balance its books and run into surplus from 2000-01. These financial reforms are now recognised as providing the foundation for improved social programs and better community outcomes. That is why we are all here.
Looking ahead, one characteristic which I believe will remain is that no political party in a traditional sense will command a sustainable majority in this place. This means that we have to find innovative ways of effective governance which do not follow the so-called Westminster system which we inherited from the Commonwealth, a system designed in a different time for a different place and for different circumstances. It is my conviction that the time has come to step outside the strictures of an antiquated system of government which was imposed upon us with little consideration of the special requirements of the Territory and which had as its basic assumption a parliament of hundreds of members. Those of us in this Assembly who know a bit about the history of Westminster know that that is why it was invented and put together.
Given the small numbers in this parliament, it would make much more sense to give every Assembly member a positive and responsible job to do. In a community such as Canberra it is a waste of time, effort and money to have a traditional form of government, Executive, Opposition and crossbenches. As we look to the future we must look more and more to have an Assembly that reflects the needs of Canberrans. We have to try to achieve an Assembly structure and an ethos of commitment to the community which cause all members to be motivated by the general public interest rather than sectional interests, factional interests or party interests. So, as I say, I think we should look to more innovative solutions.
Mr Speaker, anniversaries and birthdays are good times to look to the future. We have already extended the Executive beyond the party in power, the Liberal Party, with the appointment of Mr Moore. There is no reason that this approach should not be broadened. With such a small Assembly, it is important that the talents of all members be used constructively in a system that does not have a requirement for opposition for opposition's sake. But with input into the decision-making process must come increased responsibility for the outcomes of that process. I believe that the balance of input and responsibility for outcomes is something that we need to look to and address more definitely in this Assembly as we go into our next 10 years.
Mr Speaker, much has been achieved and much is still to be achieved, especially in the structure and roles of the legislature and the Executive. One thing is certain - the clock will not turn back. Self-government is here to stay, and I look forward with enthusiasm to the next 10 years of self-government in the ACT as we develop innovative structures best suited to the special needs of our wonderful community, our wonderful region of the great Australian Capital Territory.
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