Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 10 Hansard (18 October) . . Page.. 3145 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The Labor Party has told the community that the motion to move no confidence in the Chief Minister of the ACT was not a grab for power, yet today Mr Stanhope has risen as a candidate for Chief Minister in this place. Mr Speaker, there was a clear decision by the electors of the ACT at the last ACT election, and it is dangerous indeed for the fabric of self-government in this territory if the Assembly is to decide to change the government of the day when the electors have indicated no such intention.

Mr Quinlan: Why did you sign that letter?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stanhope was heard in silence. I expect the same courtesy to be extended to Mr Humphries.

MR HUMPHRIES: If they do so, Mr Speaker, in 12 months time we will all, as democrats, accept that result; but that has not been the decision of the electors to date and therefore it is appropriate for there to be a government elected from this side of the chamber.

A ballot having been taken-

MR SPEAKER: The result of the ballot is: Mr Humphries, 10 votes; Mr Stanhope, seven votes. Therefore Mr Humphries, the candidate with the majority of votes, is declared Chief Minister.

MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister): I seek leave to make a short statement, Mr Speaker.

Leave granted.

MR HUMPHRIES: I thank members. Mr Speaker, I want to thank members who have reposed confidence in me to form a government in the ACT. A great responsibility has been placed in my hands and I intend to discharge that responsibility diligently and passionately. I have understudied this role for a great many years. I am the only Chief Minister to come to the role of Chief Minister with any previous experience as a minister. Clearly, I will need every bit of that experience, as I suspect that the honeymoon I will receive, if any, will be very short.

I want to put on record my appreciation for the work of the retiring Chief Minister, Kate Carnell. I am reminded a little of the words from Julius Caesar: "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." The achievements of the retiring Chief Minister have been myriad and tangible. History, I think, will better remember and understand her achievements than her failings.

Mr Speaker, I recall very clearly what I was doing this day 20 years ago. Members might not be able to do that. I remind members that this day 20 years ago there was a federal election and Malcolm Fraser won his last term as Prime Minister of Australia. At that stage I had recently joined the Liberal Party and was appointed booth captain for the Kaleen South polling booth at that election. That was an exciting experience for me in politics, and the excitement has kept on coming in the years since.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .