Page101 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 2 December 2020
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(5) the implementation, security and transparency of electronic voting;
(6) the efficacy of the six-week campaign period, including restrictions on roadside signage;
(7) improving donation rules and donation reporting timeframes;
(8) increasing voter turnout and participation in elections and encouraging political activity;
(9) restrictions on campaigning activities outside polling places;
(10) lowering the voting age; and
(11) any other relevant matter.
Canberrans can be proud that we live in a democratic city where our elections are conducted by an independent office. I want to recognise and thank the commissioner and the hardworking staff of Elections ACT who made it possible to ensure that Canberrans had their voices heard, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The election was free, fair and inclusive. Our democratic institutions and participants respect the independent process. In this city we all work to include as many voters as possible to ensure that their voices are heard, and respect the choice they make.
While I believe the election was well run, it does not hurt for us to conduct a review. By agreeing to an Assembly inquiry, we are all working to strengthen Canberra’s confidence in the integrity of our public administration. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (3.39): The opposition will be supporting this motion, but I make the point that in the last term this was done by a select committee. This is a different way of doing it. As will be noted in further business, I will be nominated as the chair of the JACS committee. It is worth noting—this is an example of the sort of work we were talking about earlier, when we were talking about another committee motion—that if everything is going to be done by standing committees then the scope for the other work that will be done by those standing committees will be reduced.
If standing committees will be used to do what was previously done by select committees, including estimates-type work, and if they will be considering bills and have a limited time frame to do that, it is worth noting that standing committees will be much reduced in what they can do in terms of self-referral. We need to be aware of this as an Assembly before we start burdening standing committees with various inquiries that we think are a good idea. The scope will be limited, particularly in the JACS committee.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Committees—Standing
Membership
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Pettersson): Madam Speaker has been notified in writing of the following nominations for membership of the general purpose standing committees of the Tenth Assembly:
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