Page 1521 - Week 05 - Friday, 10 May 2019
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our transport emissions and ensure access to transport for everybody in our community.
Reflecting on why Canberra is such a progressive city, one of the central reasons is the electoral system and the shape of our parliament, although for former members it may look a little crowded with 25 people now on the benches. We are one of only a couple of jurisdictions in Australia with proportional representation, with more than one member in each electorate and therefore a higher chance of working with someone from a minor party or an independent. We do not support all the views of some of the minor parties and independents that have been represented here in Canberra but we do believe that they add value to our democracy and that they enrich the policy debates that we have in this place.
Reflecting on our hopes for the next 30 years, although the ACT has made substantial progress in managing the territory there are still significant issues facing us in relation to true self-determination. It is deeply frustrating when the federal government, or essentially MPs from other states, get to overturn or veto the right of the ACT to make decisions even when it is the majority opinion of our citizens. In 2006 the ACT parliament twice passed laws recognising civil unions and then later civil partnerships. But they were both vetoed by the federal government. Eventually we passed legislation that allowed for partnership recognition but without allowing a ceremony, which allowed it to pass the political will of the federal government of the day.
The right for us to even legislate on some issues is limited, with the federal government inserting specific restrictive clauses in the territory’s self-government act in relation to dying with dignity—yet another inequality between the states and territories which needs to be addressed in the future.
The ACT is a unique place in Australia and in the world. Almost half of the territory is national park, with the city nestled into the valleys between our hills. This has shaped us as the bush capital and I believe it shapes the way we think as Canberrans. We may represent three different parties in this place but I believe that members work hard to represent the diverse views of Canberrans to strive for the best governance and democracy that we can have.
I look forward to seeing what the next 30 years bring, by which time we hope to see the ACT being a zero-emissions city, with our vulnerable people being supported in the best ways possible. We have many things to be proud of and, as a place with a strong community, we will keep working together towards an even better territory.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (10.53), in reply: I thank members for their contributions to the debate: the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Greens party. And I thank all members for getting through this: this would be the one debate in recent times without a point of order being taken. I thank all of those who travelled to be here with us today to celebrate this important occasion. Thank you for being with us.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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