Page 3101 - Week 08 - Thursday, 16 August 2018
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have said, a question of territory rights. It is a question of the 400,000 Australians who live in the ACT and the 300,000 Australians who live in the Northern Territory having the same rights as those who live in Tasmania, Western Australia or, as Ms Cheyne and Ms Lawder have pointed out, 10 to 15 minutes away in Queanbeyan, for their own parliaments and their own people to make policy in relation to this matter.
As our advertisements have said, Canberrans do not need assisted thinking on this issue. What we need is the right to make our own decision.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (3.57), in reply: I thank colleagues for their contributions. It has been an important discussion on a very important issue, one that obviously members feel very strongly about. Both issues, territory rights and end of life issues, are ones that bring strong passions, although I expected there would be more passion around end of life issue. I will acknowledge Mrs Dunne’s contribution on territory rights. I will say I was a little surprised by that. Nevertheless it is good that the diversity of views was able to be aired over the course of this debate.
From here, noting the stated position of a majority of members of the chamber, this remonstrance will then be provided to the Australian Senate. I understand that our colleagues in the Northern Territory parliament are also considering a similar approach. There will be opportunity for the territories to continue to work together on this issue in the weeks and months ahead.
I want to particularly thank Ms Cheyne for her passion and commitment over what has to date been a short parliamentary career but one that I think will be a very long parliamentary career as a result of the passion that she shows, both for her constituents and on significant issues of public policy. I think the electors of Ginninderra should be very proud of their local member today.
In saying that, I particularly welcome the contributions of those across the chamber. It is good to hear some voices from the conservative side of politics in support of these issues. And that has been a positive out of today’s debate.
I commend this motion to the Assembly and thank members for their support.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Appropriation Bill 2018-2019
[Cognate bill:
Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2018-2019
Cognate papers:
Estimates 2018-2019—Select Committee report
Estimates 2018-2019—Select Committee—government response]
Debate resumed from 14 August 2018.
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