Page 3591 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL MINISTERS
Statement by Speaker
MR SPEAKER: On 16 August 1990 the Assembly agreed to a resolution proposing that the number of Ministers for the Territory that the Chief Minister shall appoint be a number not less than three and not exceeding five. The resolution also stipulated that the Speaker address its terms to the Governor-General. Chapter XXIII of the Assembly standing orders makes provision for an address to the Queen or the Governor-General. However, I believe that the fact that we have these provisions in our standing orders does not necessarily mean that we have the right.
My inquiries to date have supported this view. Whilst the ACT (Self-Government) Act gives the Governor-General a role in relation to the Assembly - for instance, he has the power to dissolve the Assembly and make certain regulations pursuant to the Act - we do not have the same constitutional link between the Governor-General and the Assembly as there is between the Governor-General and the House of Representatives and the Senate, nor are there the same traditional ceremonial links.
I therefore propose not to proceed with the presentation of the address. Chapter XXIII of our standing orders needs to be reviewed, and I will be taking further action on this matter. In conclusion, I understand that the Chief Minister will be conveying the terms of the resolution to the Commonwealth Government.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion (by Mr Collaery) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Canberra Raiders
MR STEFANIAK (4.51): I rise during the adjournment debate to mention a rather remarkable event that is going to occur on Sunday.
Mr Collaery: You are not going to do it again, are you?
MR STEFANIAK: What is that? No, I am not going to do it again. That was Monday, Bernard.
The fact is that the Canberra Raiders, who play in the New South Wales rugby league competition, which is very much a national competition and is regarded as the hardest of that
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