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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 12 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 4375 ..

Thursday, 20 November 2003

MR SPEAKER (Mr Berry) took the chair at 10.30 am and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

Petition

Anti-discrimination legislation

By Mr Hargreaves , from 67 residents.

TO THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

The petition of certain residents of the Australian Capital Territory draws to the attention of the Assembly that all people are entitled to respect, dignity and the right to participate in society and to receive the protection of the law regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to support the passage of the Sexuality Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 and the Parentage Bill 2003 to achieve these goals.

The Clerk having announced that the terms of the petition would be recorded in Hansard and a copy referred to the appropriate minister, the petition was received.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2003 (No 2)

Mr Stanhope , pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory statement.

Title read by clerk.

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Environment and Minister for Community Affairs) (10.32): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, report No 7 of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs on changing the term of Assembly members from three years to four years made three recommendations to the Assembly: firstly, the committee recommended that the length of the term of members of the Assembly be extended from three years to four years; secondly, that the Assembly make the decision on extending the length of the term of members of the Assembly by amending the Electoral Act 1992; and thirdly, that specific amendments be made to effect recommendations one and two to ensure an effective disclosure regime for candidates.

Mr Speaker, the government accepts the recommendations of the committee in full. The Electoral Amendment Bill 2003 (No 2) will implement those recommendations. The bill

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