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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 09 Hansard (Wednesday, 18 August 2004) . . Page.. 3844 ..

opposition is not supporting this motion is on the basis that I have not made a submission to the administration and procedure committee on the reform of standing orders.

There are a couple of points I want to make about that point. It is my understanding that if the matter could have been resolved purely by changing the standing orders—there is an inquiry into the standing orders that, as Mr Cornwell has pointed out, three members have made submissions to—then my motion would have been ruled out of order. I understand the question of whether or not the motion was in order was raised in the administration and procedure committee and that the clerk gave the advice that it was in order.

The point is that, if the matter could have been resolved purely through changing the standing orders, then there would have been no point in my putting this up. The fact is that we are talking not only about changing the standing orders but also about changing the nature of the way this place works. The second thing—and why I am bringing this on now—is that there is also the point to be considered that this is my first term.

I am on the backbench, and I have no issue with that. I have no issue with learning the way this place works, and I have no issue with taking on hard work. I think all members in this place work hard. I do not take away from any of the people in this place and the amount of effort they put in. I am on three standing committees. That takes up a considerable amount of time, and I do not begrudge giving that time. I certainly did not begrudge giving that time when I signed up for the job and I do not begrudge it now that I am in the job. I will continue to work hard.

The point of putting this motion up today was to raise the issue and get the discussion flowing. I appreciate the comments put forward by all sides in this place. I appreciate the contributions to the discussion and I think it is important that we have this discussion. Ms Tucker raised a number of issues that I think are very true. There are a number of women out there who would love to be in this place, or who would like to run for politics, who are put off by the fact that it is just not a place where they feel there would be a lifestyle which they could conduct.

Ms Dundas said she supported the sentiment of the motion. She also made the comment, in relation to some of the comments made by Mrs Dunne, that it is not okay for anybody to work ridiculously long hours. I could not agree more with what Ms Dundas said: it is not okay. What I am talking about is getting quality debate and getting quality decisions out of this place. That is what this should be about.

Mrs Dunne made the point that she did not go to the Belconnen Community Council last night because she was doing her first and most important job—being here in the Assembly. I do not take away from the significance of being in the chamber, because it is very important that we come along and participate in debate. We are elected to make contributions to the debate; but we are not elected to make ridiculous comments and get up and speak just for the sake of speaking.

Ms Dundas had an issue about the wording. I would be happy to see the wording changed, but nobody has put anything forward. I would have been happy to see an amendment to the motion. All I am suggesting is that this be sent off to the administration and procedure committee and that that committee consider the way this

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