Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3050 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

I am presenting this bill as an exposure draft to allow for the broadest public discussion. Mr Wood will put the bill, with any amendments arising from the consultation process, before you for consideration and debate in autumn next year. Mr Wood is happy to arrange for a full briefing for any members of the Assembly on the details of the bill. I believe that we have successfully provided a system that will ensure the protection of the ACT's heritage into the future.

Paper

Mr Quinlan presented the following paper:

Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission-Full Retail Contestability in Electricity in the ACT-Final Report, dated 12 July 2002.

Absence of Speaker

The Clerk informed the Assembly that the Speaker, Mr Berry, will be absent from the Assembly from 2 September 2002 to 15 September 2002 inclusive and that, in accordance with standing order 6, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Cornwell, shall perform the duties of the Speaker during the absence.

Aboriginal tent embassy

Discussion of matter of public importance

MR SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Ms Dundas proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly, namely:

That the Aboriginal tent embassy is a vital part of the visual, social and political landscape of our city.

MS DUNDAS (3.37): I propose this matter of public importance because I think it is valuable for us as an Assembly to have an opportunity to put our support for the Aboriginal tent embassy on the public record. I have removed a motion I had on the notice paper so that we could consider this as a matter of importance today.

I am proud that the tent embassy is part of the visual, social and political landscape of our city. I believe it is appropriate that we show our support for the Aboriginal people who keep the embassy running. The Aboriginal tent embassy, as we know, was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1995 in recognition of its significance to indigenous people and to Australia's history.

The embassy was established on Australia Day, or Invasion Day as it is also known, in 1972. Its current site has been continually occupied since 1993. The lawn of our federal Parliament House was chosen as the original site of the embassy because of its visibility and strong symbolism. I cannot think of another site that could have made indigenous struggle so visible in the public eye.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .