Page 3490 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 September 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Ordered that the resumption of the debate be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Referral of standing order 210
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (11.18), by leave: I move:
That the order of the day relating to the proposed amendment of standing order 210 be referred to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for consideration.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.18): Obviously we will agree to this motion going to the admin and procedures committee. However, I am very disappointed that it could not be passed in the Assembly today. Should members of the committee seek any further information about communication access, I would be most happy to talk with them. I am disappointed that it has not gone through today. I would have thought it would have been reaffirming the commitment to people who are deaf and people with disability generally in the ACT to put the motion through today. I look forward to the response of the admin and procedures committee.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (11.19): I echo the sentiment of Ms Lawder and congratulate her on what she has done here today. I think that it is a remarkable thing. She reminds us all the time about the importance of not just talking about equity, access and supporting people with disabilities in our community. As I have said before, she walks the talk, and I commend her for that.
I am disappointed that such a simple, clear motion amending standing orders could not be supported jointly by the Assembly today. This is not ambiguous. This is not complex. I would have thought that if we are to stand up for people with disabilities in our community then we should do so unequivocally. We should not need to procrastinate. We should not need to send this to a committee to deliberate. What is there to deliberate, Madam Speaker? This is cut and dried. May I say how very proud I am that on this side of the chamber, led in this case by Ms Lawder, we are unequivocal and that, through Ms Lawder, we are walking the talk.
I commend Ms Lawder for what she has done. I would like to say how very proud I am to lead a team with people like Ms Lawder, with her actions today, and Mrs Jones, who in this place was the first member to breastfeed. It is great to see this happening. It is great that we are standing up for people in our community. I say to those opposite that if this is going to go to the committee, I very strongly urge committee members to support this quickly and bring it back so that it is clear to everybody in our community that this is something that we support. I see no argument for not proceeding with what is a very noble change to our standing orders.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Capital Metro) (11.22): I think it is an entirely reasonable and straightforward process to ask the Standing Committee
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video