Page 91 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 1991

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However, as an aside, it was interesting to note that, when the report was brought down by this committee, the responsible Federal Minister in fact indicated to the media that he thought that if the Chief Minister or the ACT people wanted a referendum the ACT should provide for it. Clearly, this is in direct contrast to the unanimous recommendations of this committee. I welcome also the support from the Leader of the Opposition for the repatriation of a number of these powers to a self-governing Assembly.

Unfortunately, Ms Follett chose to spoil these initial measured comments by personal attacks on members on this side of the house - personal attacks which, unfortunately, led to a continuation of those attacks by her colleagues across the chamber. I believe that my colleagues have answered these attacks in a much more measured tone than that used by the Leader of the Opposition and her colleagues, and I will say no more on that matter.

In closing my remarks, I would like to ask the Leader of the Opposition a question regarding the type of electoral system that her group will support. Will they be prepared to support what amounts to a proposal for a first past the post electoral system without any provision for preferences whatsoever? However, as committee chairman, I also must briefly take up a point with Mr Humphries. The committee did not recommend a pure d'Hondt system which amends the current system to allow for independents and allocation of preferences if a form of d'Hondt were to be used for future elections. I welcome the majority of the comments which were supportive of this report which, hopefully, will set the scene for the future good government of the ACT.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Mr Collaery) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Banks

MR MOORE (9.59): Mr Speaker, this evening I would like to raise the issue of banks throughout Australia. We have just recently seen the State Bank of South Australia in a very difficult position and, in fact, I understand that the crash of the State Bank in South Australia is likely to cost every individual worker-taxpayer there something like $20 a week over the next couple of years.

Banks have played a major role in the well-being of individuals in our society and in Australia there has been a great tradition of trust in the banks; but slowly that


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