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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 3088 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

In the context of some of the trials and tribulations that the Assembly has suffered over the years since self-government-the residual resistance that continues to persist in relation to self-government in the ACT and the operation of the Assembly-I think anything that we as an Assembly can do that projects to the Canberra community the important work that is done in this legislature will not just enhance the standing and reputation of the Assembly but will potentially improve the legislative process and outcomes. A whole range of positives would arise from the people of Canberra taking more interest in the work of their Assembly.

Perhaps it would be hoping for too much to expect that the people of Canberra might show some pride in the work of the Assembly, but certainly I think by making politics and decision-making more relevant to the community, the broadcasting of proceedings can only lead to a strengthening of this institution. It is true that, to a large extent, the Assembly is not all that visible, that it does not loom large in the minds of the people of Canberra, and I think that is a pity. This sort of situation does not enhance the processes of the parliament and it does not strengthen the institution.

There is a lot of debate these days in the community about, for instance, the relevance of politics, politicians, parliaments and the law-making process to the people. A lot of commentators speak of this disconnection-a term that I see used as much as anything else-between the elector, the voter, the citizen, and the decision-making processes. It is a disconnection that many social commentators use in their attempts, for instance, to seek to understand some of the One Nation phenomena, if it can be called a phenomena-the sense of alienation, disempowerment and disconnection that separates people from the decision-making processes.

So this is an issue that we need to take seriously. One way to address it is to broadcast Assembly proceedings. That is why I, for instance, have been quite keen to engage, say, at least the ABC, the national broadcaster, in some sort of debate or dialogue around the role that that institution can play in the broadcasting of proceedings of this place. I think there is significant potential.

A range of other things can be done to strengthen this Assembly, this institution. I think that goes to issues around the way the chamber behaves and the way we project ourselves as a responsible legislature. But, of course, there is a whole range of other initiatives over and above broadcasting that we should consider. At the heart of those is how we regard ourselves. To the extent that I had some concern about the Chief Minister's attraction to a council-style government-

Mr Humphries: You'd like to be the mayor, wouldn't you?

MR STANHOPE: Yes, that's right.

Mrs Burke: Mayor Stanhope.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hird): Order! The Leader of the Opposition has the call.

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