Page 1384 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 1 May 1990
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last election. If there is to be public confidence in the political process and in our system of government, then it is very important that the community should know that the views they expressed at the ballot-box are represented, and continue to be represented, in the legislature.
It had long been a convention in appointments to casual vacancies arising in the Australian Senate that a member of the same political party would replace the outgoing senator. Quite clearly, this is the only appropriate way to proceed with the replacement of representatives chosen in multimember electorates. It ensures that the range and balance of views expressed by the people at the ballot-box are preserved until the next expression of that opinion at an election for all of the positions.
Of course, it is a matter of record that that convention, that important principle, was thrown into turmoil by the conservative New South Wales and Queensland governments who replaced Labor senators with non-Labor senators in 1975, thereby precipitating a constitutional crisis. It is also a matter of record that that convention has now been enshrined in the Australian Constitution. The ACT (Self-Government) Act follows that convention, which now seems to be accepted by all major political parties. For our part, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party believes that this process today is a demonstration of integrity in politics. We believe that members of this Assembly should implement the promises they make to the electors and that those electors are entitled to expect the views they supported at the election will continue to be represented in this Assembly.
Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has always taken that important constitutional convention seriously and continues to support it. Our commitment to integrity in politics is also reflected by the choice of Mr Terry Connolly to fill the vacancy created by Mr Whalan's resignation. The selection of Terry Connolly shows that the Labor Party takes this Assembly and the business of representing the ACT people very seriously indeed. In Mr Connolly the party has selected a person of high calibre, of experience and with qualifications.
Our party has taken very seriously the task of finding a person who will contribute to our team and to this Assembly and who has the interests of the Canberra community at heart. It is significant that Terry should join us on 1 May. May Day is traditionally a day of celebration by the broad Labor movement of its achievements and victories in all of its struggles. I am sure that the significance of this day does not escape Terry Connolly, who grew up in Port Adelaide in a working-class family and with strong union principles.
Members will come to realise in the months ahead that Terry is very committed to the role of the law as a servant of the interests of ordinary people. It was a natural progression for Terry to join the Labor Party in 1976 and
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