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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2052 ..

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism and Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming) (10.19): I table an explanatory statement to the amendments and supplementary budget papers. I present the following papers:

Supplementary explanatory statement to the Government amendments.

Financial Management Act, pursuant to section 13—Appropriation Bill 2003-2004 (No 3)—Amendment to the supplementary appropriation for the Department of Education, Youth and Family Services and revised Appendix 1: Whole of Government financial statements.

Amendments agreed to.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Suspension of standing and temporary orders

Motion (by Mr Wood) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent order of the day No 13, private members business, relating to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2002, being called on and debated cognately with order of the day No 1, executive business, relating to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2003.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2003

[Cognate bill:

Electoral Amendment Bill 2002]

Debate resumed from 20 November 2003, on motion by Mr Wood:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind members that in debating order of the day No 1, executive business, relating to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2003, they may also address their remarks to order of the day No 13, private members business, relating to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2002.

MS DUNDAS (10.22): The ACT Democrats will be supporting the Electoral Amendment Bill 2003 in principle and also will be supporting the Electoral Amendment Bill 2002, as presented by Ms Tucker, in principle. The government’s bill originates from the review of the Electoral Act conducted by the Electoral Commission, which was completed in 2002. The commission made a number of recommendations that have been picked up by the government in this bill.

I will start by noting that it is extremely important that our electoral framework is continually monitored and updated to reflect the best practice of democratic inclusion for the people of the territory. While the electoral system is only one part of a democratic system of government, it is probably the most fundamental, by ensuring that those who are given the power to make laws and govern are directly chosen by the people.

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