Page 4853 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994
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It has been the most marvellous learning experience for me. When I first came into this place I did not know a great deal about government, apart from the fact that a conscience vote is when members vote according to their conscience. We have not had too many of them around this place over the years. Politicians vote according to how the decisions are made by their party in what I laughingly call a cupboard at times, but it is referred to as a cabinet. It would be a far better situation if we got back to where, in any electorate - be it a 17-member electorate, a five-member electorate, or three seven-member electorates or whatever - the members voted according to the majority expressed will of the people in that electorate. Imagine the responsibility we would push on the electorate. Then it would be no longer our responsibility. They could not come outside with their posters and banners and say, "It is your responsibility", because it would not be. We would have been voting for what they wanted.
I look forward to the time in Canberra, apart from when we have a council with a lord mayor, when we have precinct groups like the community councils, where there is really good communication within the local electorate. People in Tuggeranong should not be particularly concerned about what is going on in Weston or what is going on in Ainslie. After all, we are concerned about our local electorate - where we live, where we shop, where our children play, where we garden, where we drive around, and so on. That is the area we know. So, when we comment on it we can make valuable comment. It would be a great reform to have precinct areas. If anybody is interested, they do it very well in Manly, in Sydney, where they have 12 precincts. Of course, there is citizens-initiated referendums. It will not be too long before that is introduced throughout Australia. Of course, it needs to be binding. Do not introduce non-binding referendums. The only reason that people want it is that they cannot have a binding say. When you finally get around to introducing it, do it correctly.
Over the last six years I have had a great deal of help from people in the administrative area of the Assembly, the Secretariat and so on. I want to thank all the people who have helped me to serve others in this community. Normally the other people, the security guards and so on, do not get a mention, but they deserve thanks for securing all the secrets that people have in the Assembly. What about the cleaners? Where would we be if there were no big bins and there were no cleaners? Particularly, I would like to thank my staff over the years. They have done a wonderful job.
Mr Humphries: The people who wake you up in the morning.
MR STEVENSON: The people who wake me up in the morning, and also the people who have supported what I have done over the many years by letterboxing our Direct Democracy newspaper and so on. I thank you, members, and a merry Christmas to you all.
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