Page 394 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 1991
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DR KINLOCH (4.40): Mr Moore, thank you very much for your proposal. It was much appreciated. We much endorse your support for a fully proportional representation system. I regret that Ms Follett did not speak to the proposal. Indeed, we all need to air this subject. I have written about 12 pages on it. As I cannot get it in in the next 30 seconds, I hope to have another go tonight.
MR SPEAKER: Order! The time for the discussion has expired.
Sitting suspended from 4.41 to 8.00 pm
ELECTORAL SYSTEM - PROPOSED REFERENDUM
MR MOORE (8.00), by leave: I move:
That this Assembly urge all Members of the Federal Parliament in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to adopt the recommendation of its own Committee and conduct a Commonwealth funded referendum which will allow the people of the ACT to choose their own electoral system.
I draw members' attention once again to the fact that I have added the words "Commonwealth funded" at the instigation of Mr Humphries. I appreciate that suggestion, which clarifies quite clearly what ought to be the case.
Having spoken for nearly 15 minutes previously on the matter of public importance, Mr Speaker, I have just a few things to say on this particular matter. I think, Mr Speaker, that a unanimous motion adopted by this Assembly must carry some weight with each of the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives. That is why, although it is somewhat redundant, I have added for effect the words "in the House of Representatives and in the Senate". I recognise that it is redundant, but I have added them specifically for that purpose.
If this motion is carried, as I expect it will be, I think it is appropriate that you, as Speaker, then take the responsibility to write to each member of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Senate and make them aware that there is a unanimous decision - if that is the case - by this Assembly that follows these lines. It seems to me that, the more pressure that we can bring onto the Federal Parliament to follow up the actions that are appropriate for it to carry out, the better chance we have of doing the right thing by the people of the ACT.
It is even more important because you must remember that our own four representatives in the Federal Parliament would also then be under a great deal more pressure to ensure that the views of the people of the ACT, as expressed unanimously through their elected
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