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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 3904 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

weight," or, "They are not doing the right thing." I will not say that, Mr Speaker, nor will any member of my government.

Mr Wood: Oh, come on! Do you think anybody would miss me?

MR HUMPHRIES: Perhaps not, Mr Wood. Perhaps they will not miss you. They might not miss you, Mr Wood, but please do not say to other members who might wish to take up this invitation that they should not be attending. It would be quite inappropriate and quite unfortunate. I think it is just cultural cringe, Mr Speaker. We do have a role to play in that celebration. It might be a small role. No - one is going to say, "Look, the ACT is here," when we roll into the Exhibition Building. I do not see why at this stage we should make a statement of the kind which the amendment would make. I appeal to members to pass this motion unamended.

MR KAINE (8.35): Mr Speaker, I will be quite brief. Quite frankly, I do not know what all the hoo - ha is about. I think the sentiment of this motion is acceptable. If there is to be a celebration of federation of the type that Mr Moore outlines in the first part of his motion, it is appropriate that those of us who wish to attend should do so. The motion does not oblige anybody to go, as Mr Humphries just said. It says that members of the Assembly should join with members of other legislatures. I think that is a healthy sentiment on the celebration of federation. I will decide for myself whether I wish to go or not. As the Chief Minister suggests in his case, I will make no judgment about anybody else who makes the decision either to go or not to go. I think it is foolish to do other than accept the motion put forward by Mr Moore because it allows each of us to then decide for ourselves what we want to do.

I would urge Mr Stanhope to withdraw his amendment, pass the original motion, and then exercise his choice, and that the members of the Labor Party do likewise, as to whether they go or not go.

MR RUGENDYKE (8.36): Mr Speaker, I was quite excited when I received the notification of this event from your good self. In fact, a couple of weeks ago when that notification arrived, I marked the relevant days in my diary for next year, giving no thought as to whether or not I would be able to go or may go or may not go, since I had yet to consult with the minister for home affairs, war and finance, so I am pleased to see the word "should" rather than "must". Mr Speaker, I intend to drive down with at least my wife and perhaps a couple of kids, and if I decide to do that -

MR SPEAKER: Order! Keep your voices down, please. Mr Rugendyke has the call.

MR RUGENDYKE: If I decide to do that I will, irrespective of the nature in which this motion ends up being passed. Even if the wet blanket of this amendment is thrown over the lot of us, I will get underneath it and drive down myself.

Mr Speaker, the centenary of federation is a great opportunity for us all to join in the celebrations and I am looking forward to it immensely. It will be a great opportunity to display my 1952 Lister stationary engine that helped build this great nation of ours by driving a shearing shed out in the west of New South Wales all those years ago. It is beautifully restored in my own garage. It will be an opportunity to show it off. Here in the ACT we will have events that will enable us to do this sort of thing - to wear our

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