Page 1063 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 23 June 1992
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MS FOLLETT: As Mr Kaine points out, they do have to know about it first. But, given that it has attracted not some little public attention, I think that people's chances of knowing about it are pretty good. As I say, I welcome anybody's comments upon it, including those of Mr Kaine should he wish to make any further comments.
Electoral System
MRS GRASSBY: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. Can the Chief Minister explain to the Assembly what steps the Government has taken to implement the new electoral system for the ACT?
MS FOLLETT: I welcome Mrs Grassby's question, Mr Deputy Speaker. Could I at the outset reiterate, as I have done many times, that I accept absolutely the decision of the people of Canberra as to their preferred electoral system. As members know, I and my party campaigned for a different system. We did not win on that issue. As I said before the referendum and, as I have repeatedly said afterwards, I will implement the decision of the people of Canberra.
Far from doing nothing about it - as I heard Mr Humphries claiming over the weekend, I believe - the Government has been giving consideration to the best way, the most effective method, of bringing about the change to the electoral system that the Canberra community has so clearly sought. Mr Deputy Speaker, what the Government has done is to set aside some funds in order to engage an independent expert to advise us further on the fairest way of implementing the decision of the Canberra people. I believe that it is important that we get an expert in electoral matters, and we have sought to find such a person and to recruit that person for the purpose of assisting the Government. I also think, unlike Mr Humphries, that it is very important that that person be independent and be seen to be independent. Mr Humphries's proposal for a working group which has been spawned by the Liberal Party is doomed to being coloured in a partisan way. I am seeking to avoid that kind of partisanship in implementing the new electoral system for the ACT.
When I have further information to convey to members, I will certainly do so, because I would welcome input from all sectors of the community on the implementation of the referendum decision. I would certainly welcome input from Mr Humphries's working party at the appropriate time. But I repeat, as Mr Humphries himself said, that progress on this matter is for the Government; and we are acting conscientiously to implement the community's decision.
Murrumbidgee River Corridor
MS SZUTY: My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning, Mr Wood. I did give your office notification of this question, I believe, on Thursday, Mr Wood. As you will be aware, Minister, the preservation of the Murrumbidgee River corridor was the key part of a regional strategy plan put forward by the New South Wales-ACT Consultative Forum in July 1991. Will the Government support a detailed study of the Murrumbidgee corridor between the ACT and Burrinjuck Dam, to be undertaken under the auspices of the New
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