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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 3072 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Mr Deputy Speaker, it is very appropriate that these questions be put to the community by way of a referendum. It is not a question of clouding other election issues. There will be a lot of election issues and I think the people of Canberra are smart enough to vote on this as a separate issue. I suppose drugs will be just one other election issue but I think this is of such fundamental importance in our community that it deserves to be put to the people of Canberra so as to give to whoever is here in government after October a clear signal of what the citizens of Canberra want. That is not going to happen and I think that is very sad for democracy in the ACT.

Unfortunately it seems that this bill will be defeated, and I think that is very sad. I think members have put their point of view and I do not think they are likely to change the way they intend to vote. If I thought they would, I would urge them to think again. Let this go to the people; let the people decide; let the people indicate to this Assembly what they want to see happen with this crucially important social issue. Unfortunately, that does not look likely to occur.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted-

	 Ayes, 7   			Noes, 8

 Mrs Burke  Mr Stefaniak  	Mr Berry  	Ms Tucker
 Mr Cornwell    		Mr Corbell  	Mr Wood
 Mr Hird    			Mr Hargreaves
 Mr Humphries    		Mr Kaine
 Mr Osborne    			Mr Moore
 Mr Rugendyke    		Mr Stanhope 

At 5.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the motion for the adjournment of the Assembly was put and was negatived.

Protection Orders Bill 2001

Debate resumed from 9 August 2001, on motion by Mr Stefaniak:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Debate (on motion by Ms Tucker ) adjourned to the next sitting.

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