Page 2334 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 August 2022
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Elliot said:
That was fun and maybe other people should try it at their homes and schools. I leave here at the end of the year and maybe I will come back and see how the trees are growing.
George said:
Kids helped me make this garden. Small things can make a difference. It will be even more important in the future. Hopefully gang-gangs are going to benefit and live in the garden.
I could not agree more.
Federal government—territory rights
MR PETTERSSON (Yerrabi) (6.28): I rise this evening to thank and congratulate the House of Representatives for passing the Restoring Territory Rights Bill. Today 99 members of the House of Representatives voted for territory rights. Unfortunately, 37 opposed it. This is an issue on which deeply held views exist.
I would like to commend all of the territory members who advocated so fiercely for this change. I particularly want to mention Alicia Payne MP, as well as Luke Gosling MP, who brought forward this bill. It is because of them that it was debated in the House of Representatives. As this bill moves forward, I urge all members of the Senate to vote for territory rights. Residents of the territories deserve the exact same democratic rights that our counterparts in the states currently enjoy.
This Assembly is ready to debate this issue. We are a mature and well-developed parliament. In 30 years of self-government we have shown that we can handle tough debates. I believe that self-government means self-government. If you believe that we are able to sit at national cabinet, if you believe that we can run a health system and an education system, if you believe that we can legislate when it comes to criminal law then we are mature enough to consider this issue as well.
I ask the members of the Senate who are still considering this issue and have not yet made up their minds to understand that voting for territory rights, even if you do not agree with voluntary assisted dying, shows true grace to empower those that you may or may not agree with to make decisions—not because you may or may not agree with them but to showcase that you respect their ability to make those decisions. It is a very powerful thing. I urge all of those senators to make that choice, because I believe that our nation’s democracy is not well-served by the current state of the self-government acts of the territories; I look forward to their amendment very soon.
Canberra Montessori School—gang-gang cockatoos
MS DAVIDSON (Murrumbidgee) (6.30): Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Canberra Montessori School in Holder with Minister Vassarotti to see the garden that the students have planted to support gang-gang habitat. The students have been working with their teachers and local Aboriginal community members to create a
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