Page 139 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 17 February 1993
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The agreement was achieved in July 1991, the month the Alliance Government was replaced by the second Labor Government. In effect, we are dealing with something like 35 months all up, which is almost three years.
I have asked in the Assembly on three separate occasions - beginning with 7 April last year, repeating it on 13 May last year, and finally on 17 September last year - what was happening about these appointments. I have received no satisfactory response. The first two questions were directed to the Minister for Education, who finally conceded that it was the Chief Minister's responsibility to make these appointments. On 17 September the Chief Minister responded in part to my question that she had not made a decision on the matter. She said, "Indeed, I have not considered that matter".
I believe that this is quite embarrassing for this Assembly. I trust that it is not unduly inconvenient to the council of the ANU or the University of Canberra, though I have had representations in relation to the fact that we have been extremely tardy on these appointments. I do not understand why we have not made these appointments. As I said earlier, I understand that they could be members of this Assembly or they could be members of the community. It does not matter. The fact is that the Chief Minister, as a representative of the Assembly, has been given the right to nominate people to these councils and has simply not done so for 20 months.
Mr Kaine: She has a couple of names up her sleeve, though, but she will not tell us who they are.
MR CORNWELL: I would welcome an explanation, Mr Kaine, as to why this has not been done. I do not know whether, once again, we are back into the factional fighting that goes on in the ALP over the spoils that may be available to the left wing or the right wing of that party. In any event, I repeat that it is an embarrassing situation for this Assembly to be in. I strongly urge members to support this motion to instruct the Chief Minister to appoint immediately nominees to the councils of the Australian National University and the University of Canberra, thus resolving a 20-month delay.
Debate (on motion by Ms Follett) adjourned.
AUSTRALIAN FLAG - DISPLAY IN CHAMBER
MR DE DOMENICO (11.42): I move:
That this Assembly requests the Speaker to arrange for an Australian flag to be properly and appropriately displayed within the confines of the Chamber of the Assembly.
Madam Speaker, this notice has been on the notice paper since 16 June. I think it is appropriate that we have come to it today. I am sure that we all believe, looking at television in recent times, that there should be unanimous support from every member of this house for the need to display the Australian flag.
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