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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 3900 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

12,000 Australians gathered to celebrate the launch of the Australian democracy. On 9 May 2001 over 7,000 Australians will be invited to gather to commemorate and celebrate the centenary of democracy.

There is to be a very special celebration that all members of all parliaments in Australia have been invited to. All mayors in Australia as well as other notable people from the public will also gather. First of all there will be a sitting of the federal parliament in Melbourne. Then there will be a celebration involving all members of legislatures to commemorate what happened 100 years.

Mr Speaker, this takes us to a time when we need to think beyond just the ACT and beyond the politics of it. Somebody might not be happy if members go down there. I do not expect that every member of this legislature will attend, but I think it would be important for a good - sized delegation from this legislature to be part of that history of Australia. Of course, a motion like this cannot force every member to attend, nor should it force every member to attend. I neglected to point out, Mr Speaker, that members will be invited - their spouses will accompany them of course - as was done in 1901. I think this is an important opportunity for us to celebrate our history. We can show to the people of Canberra just how important our democracy is and we can celebrate 100 years of democracy here in Australia. It is a great opportunity.

I will say one other thing, Mr Speaker. In looking through the program, one of the things that struck me was the number of celebrations the Labor Party is having parallel to the other celebrations. Members of the Labor Party have seen the program with those celebrations on it. You can see that there will be things of particular interest. This ought not be seen as a partisan approach. We ought to be taking a collective approach and say, "Yes, this is important for Australia." I encourage each and every member to support this motion.

MR WOOD (8.20): Mr Speaker, the opposition has some reservations about this and shortly Mr Stanhope will be moving an amendment to Mr Moore's motion. I have not heard yet what it is proposed that 7,500 councillors, aldermen, mayors, members, senators and others will be doing once they get there. Perhaps I just have not paid attention. Maybe there is a good program spelled out already. I have some reservation about an invitation which invites every representative in Australia, and I do not fully understand the reason for it. Maybe someone will tell me this during the debate.

My own view is that this Assembly ought to be represented. I do not think there is any doubt about that. I think there are appropriate people to represent the Assembly, but I will leave the detail of that to Mr Stanhope's amendment. To repeat, I simply have some reservations about a blanket attendance by all 17 members.

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (8.21): Mr Speaker, the Labor Party does not disagree with any of the sentiment that Mr Moore has expressed. We acknowledge and accept that the centenary of federation is a most significant event in Australia's history. We are celebrating 100 years of federation, 100 years since the states joined to form the Commonwealth of Australia. I do not think we need to have a debate now about our commitment to the Commonwealth, our determination to celebrate the Commonwealth, our determination to celebrate the fact that the states did federate in that great coming together 100 years ago.

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