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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 3756 ..

MRS BURKE (continuing):

have had an education system which specialised in weaponry training as opposed to literacy and numeracy. While we can teach the lessons of democracy to others, there is much about its absence which we can also learn from them.

Secondly, to involve the community in our system of democracy, we can investigate and implement approaches that seek to constantly renew their support for it. By reinforcing our commitment to processes like consultation and research, we are also reinforcing our commitment to democracy. Whether it be on drugs, the rehabilitation of offenders, planning matters or services for people on low incomes, consultation with the community is a critical element of both community engagement and participative democracy. Without consultation, there is only empty rhetoric and speakers without an audience. Involvement is empowerment.

Consultation is also an essential component of the creation of safe spaces for community debate. Consultation does not mean, however, that those with the loudest voice will always win the debate or that their position is necessarily the best. Consultation means that the most informed debate is conducted, that all those issues considered important by the community are canvassed and that all those affected have had the opportunity to have their say.

It is then the responsibility of governments in a democracy to consider that information, weigh each side of the debate and make a decision which balances the interests of those affected. The voting system which lies at the basis of a modern democracy essentially determines which people the community believes are the best equipped to undertake that balancing act.

Finally, those people elected to represent their fellow citizens must make a stronger commitment to upholding standards which our community would reasonably expect, and they must constantly remind themselves of the honour that has been given them by the electorate. Service above self should be our constant cry.

At the local level we should make a concerted effort to complete and pass a code of ethics and behaviour for Assembly members early in the new parliament. We, like many in our community, must have standards to which we can be held and against which our performance can be assessed. This code should reflect not only our commitment to high standards in representing our constituents but also the model for democracy that we would like to be held up to the world as something of which we can be proud.

The protection and promotion of democracy, a revitalised approach to community engagement, and higher parliamentary standards are three of the elements key to encouraging people in our community to think about politics for more than 15 minutes. They are essential to regaining respect for political institutions and taking seriously the dreams of those who aspire to our system of governance. Our community deserves it. The people in developing democracies deserve it, and we have a responsibility to deliver it.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 12.30 to 2.30 pm

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