Page 3798 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 8 November 1994
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I think it is also important to look at the history and the significance of this concept. There is no doubt that the proposal has been worked on before. I have discussed it with members on a number of occasions, both in the previous Assembly and in this Assembly, although I believe that it has never been raised as a public issue for the Assembly to consider. My discussions with other members have been generally positive; that they seek to ensure that we are as accountable as possible.
Madam Speaker, there is the issue of televising in this Assembly. I recall a discussion with you in, I think, the Administration and Procedures Committee. We discussed the cost of implementing the broadcasting of proceedings. I have certainly been aware that that is an issue that needs to be discussed and fully explored before a Bill of this nature should come before the Assembly. Though taking that into account, I feel that it is an embarrassment to me, and I think it should be an embarrassment to other members, that we have not got on with doing this and ensuring that this procedure is followed. Rather than raise it in some way as an election issue, or something along those lines, it is better to raise it in a non-partisan way; to say, "Yes, let us take this on; let us look at the costs; let us deal with this issue as part of introducing a new Assembly to the people of Canberra, as part of a coming of age". I think that after coming into this new building, and going into our third election, we will see a very different attitude from the people of Canberra from what those of us who have been in since the beginning of the First Assembly can recall. Mr Stefaniak, who has been both inside and on the outside looking in, I think, would also recognise that there have been major changes in the attitude of people to the Assembly and how it should operate.
Madam Speaker, it would seem to me that the broadcasting of proceedings should be allowed - both radio and television, and live, if required, in the case of radio. The recordings can be used for either sound footage or visual and sound footage, and they can also be used by the print medium so that they can check what has happened. Madam Speaker, that is the issue I wanted to raise today. I was particularly keen to see it dealt with in a non-partisan way. This Assembly can raise the issue for new members coming in. It can say, "Look, there really are no good reasons for this to be delayed any further. The cost is something we are going to have to deal with, but it is an important part of the process of ensuring that the Assembly becomes much more a part of the community". Madam Speaker, I recommend to members that we deal with this issue in a sensible and rational way.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (4.13): I congratulate Mr Moore on having raised this issue. I think it is high time indeed that the Assembly did address the matter of the broadcasting of our proceedings. In principle, the Government supports the broadcasting of Assembly proceedings, as I am sure all members would, and we will all have our reasons for doing so. Mr Moore has mentioned in particular the question of accountability. There is no doubt in my mind that, the more open our processes of the Assembly are, the more accountable we become to the community that we serve.
I think there is a more fundamental question, and that has to do with the acceptance by our community of this Assembly. I know that many members will be aware that for the duration of the First Assembly the workings of the Assembly and its members were hardly understood and, need I say, hardly tolerated by many in the Canberra community.
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