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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 2392 ..


MS DUNDAS

(continuing):

government, but it does appear to be the exception rather than a strong theme of this budget. We need to reconsider and reorder priorities so that we are tackling the causes instead of the symptoms of crime.

I would now like to comment on Mr Smyth's amendment. I think it has been put quite clearly on public record for close to 25 years that the ACT Democrats are supportive of the concept of a bill of rights. There are concerns about an excessive show of optimism by the government to allocate four years worth of funding to implement a proposed human rights act, when there has not been a lot of discussion about the bill. However, I believe that human rights is important and that it is something we should definitely be allocating money to.

I have had discussions with the Chief Minister's office on this matter. Even if the money in the budget that is specifically targeted for human rights legislation does not relate to the bill of rights report, we will at least be focusing on some form of promotion of human rights. The money is there to promote human rights, to provide greater support for making people aware of their rights and to perhaps rethink how the ACT deals with human rights both as an Assembly and as a community.

So I will not be supporting Mr Smyth's amendment. I commend the government for the bill of rights discussion that has gone on over the last financial year. I hope that in the next financial year we can build on and protect people's human rights here in the ACT.

MRS BURKE

(11.12): I will just make a very quick comment in relation to the point that Ms Dundas finished on, and that was, of course, the human rights act. This title has been very subtly changed from what was formerly known by the broad community as the bill of rights. I have had many calls to my office from people wondering if they are one and the same thing. It is well known that this legislation is the Chief Minister's pet project.

I am very concerned, Chief Minister, that your open, accountable and transparent government is going about dealing with this legislation in this way. I think you have got minority support for what you are trying to do. You do not have the majority of people on side. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I feel very concerned that we are spending money in the way that we are. Everybody needs to have rights. However, I do not see mention of a corresponding bill of responsibilities.

Mr Stanhope

: What about the detention centres? Do you think those people should have rights?

MRS BURKE

: I think the Chief Minister is trying to be the first chief minister or premier to set up a program like this. He is trying to wave a flag or something and say, "Look at me."I think it is a dreadful slur on the rest of this intelligent, articulate community that he boulders ahead with this pet project without properly consulting people. He has had the audacity not to take into account the full views of the community. He has consulted a handful of people and received 380 submissions, or whatever.


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