Page 75 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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and the responsibilities we have as the custodians of the national capital.
Many of these values are shared by people in this chamber, I know. Certainly the Leader of the Opposition has, at times, spoken eloquently on this subject. In this sense I would expect that many of the matters relating to planning, heritage and environment could be described as non-party. I believe that we can retain and build on the level of consensus we already have as a community in these areas. This can only be achieved, however, if decisions are open and responsible and this is the thrust of the Alliance Government's position, a position that, unlike the previous Government's rhetoric in some issues, we will deliver.
One of my major roles as an Executive Deputy will be to ensure that the Government fully participates in the consultation process, particularly on planning, environment and heritage matters. My door will always be open to residents of the ACT in these particular areas.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion (by Mr Duby) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Release of Nelson Mandela
MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (9.09): Mr Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity that is offered by the adjournment in the Assembly to express, at least on behalf of the Labor team in the Assembly, our deep satisfaction at a very significant event which took place in the early hours of Monday morning, our time. I speak, of course, of the release of Mr Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa.
Mr Mandela has spent the last 27 years in prison for his political beliefs and his political activism. I find him an inspiring man who has devoted his life to furthering the cause of human rights and equality in South Africa. Despite the fact that he has spent the past 27 years in prison, and much of that time at hard labour, he has lost none of his commitment to that cause. He has lost none of his outspokenness and none of his will to improve the lot of South Africans until they do enjoy true equality.
I take the release of Mr Mandela, together with the unbanning of the ANC - which took place some little while ago - as positive steps towards the improvement of the lot of black South Africans. I would like to express on behalf
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