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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 11 Hansard (29 November) . . Page.. 3441 ..
MR HIRD (7.55): Let me say at the outset, Mr Speaker, that it was refreshing to hear the words of the Leader of the Opposition in respect of this matter. It is sad that his party did not adopt the same attitude some years ago. The Liberal Party will not be supporting Ms Tucker's proposal, but the motion and the amendment of the Labor Party will be spoken to by my colleague the Deputy Chief Minister.
The committee system, as Mr Stanhope rightly said, has been strained. I have borne the brunt of that as a member. I would like to say for the record that I have appreciated the tolerance and courtesy shown to me by the Labor Party and the crossbench members for my efforts in recent times. Mr Berry is not with us at the moment, but he wanted to ask questions about certain annual reports and pressed for it. As the chair of the education committee would bear out, I was needed there to make up a quorum at the same time as advertised public hearings of another committee were being conducted and I had to criss-cross between the meetings. That has been done on numerous occasions to accommodate the processes of this parliament. It is only through the goodwill of members of this house that that can be achieved, but it has not been easy.
Let us look at the committee system, which is the backbone of this parliament. The committee system evolved out of historic links between the advisory nature of the first and second House of Assembly and the first Legislative Assembly. They advised the federal government through a committee system which traversed both state and local or municipal issues. The situation has evolved even further to one in which this legislature is allowed to make laws for the good order of the people of this territory. As someone who has been involved in local politics since 1974, 26 years, it has been a delight for me to have been a part of that unique situation, coming into this place with a young Greg Cornwell and a young Trevor Kaine.
I might add that it was refreshing to hear the Leader of the Opposition acknowledge that democracy should rule in this territory. Democracy is about the right of local residents to access their respective members, whether they be from the crossbench, the Labor Party or the Liberal Party, on municipal or state matters. At the moment, and I speak with some authority, I am unable to fulfil that very serious requirement on numerous occasions.
Members are elected by their constituents and then put on committees or made ministers, the Speaker or whatever, but priority certainly should be given to their respective constituents. I have not had that luxury for the last 21/2 years. I have had to put that aside to undertake the heavy workload that I have had. However, I am not complaining. I hope that members of this place will not see it as a whingeing when I say that I have not been able to handle the work. I regard that workload as a challenge and attack it with relish.
Mr Rugendyke: And you do it well.
MR HIRD
: As I said earlier, Mr Rugendyke, I appreciate the assistance and support I get from those who understand my position. In particular, Mr Wood would appreciate my difficulties. It should be understood that democracy does come at a price. I hark back to 1986 when a report was brought in by the then advisory body, the second House of Assembly, and endorsed by the Independents, the Labor Party and the Liberal Party.
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