Page 27 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 7 December 2004
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It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity to outline briefly the way that the Greens plan to work in the Assembly with the other members, and indicate some of our priority areas for attention. As we all know, this Assembly is different from its five predecessors in two ways. First of all, this is the first majority government of either brand—Labor or Liberal. Second, I am a member of the smallest crossbench ever elected in the ACT. With four years of this Assembly to run, this morning I would like to consider the opportunities in this new political configuration.
The Hare-Clark system was chosen to elect a house finely calibrated to reflect the community of electors. Crispin Hull reminded us that, if this ACT Assembly were elected by the same system used to elect the federal House of Representatives, we would have a parliament of 17 ALP members. This would mean no opposition and no crossbench—hardly a reflection of the diversity of the ACT population. Through proportional representation, we have a parliament in which there are at least three perspectives on any issue and I am sure that the Canberra community would like to hear them all.
In the October election, of many independents and small parties vying for seats, we Greens held our ground with around 10 per cent of the vote Canberra-wide. Many in the community who have expressed their concern that there are not more members of the crossbench are very glad that the Greens are here. I feel honoured to be the Greens representative in this Assembly. I acknowledge the work done by my predecessors, Lucy Horodny and Kerrie Tucker in the third Assembly, and Kerrie’s work in the Fourth and Fifth Assemblies. They have established a solid base for my work in the Sixth Assembly and established strong relationships, which I will do my utmost to maintain and extend.
Past assemblies indicate that there are many ways that the crossbench may contribute to better outcomes for the people of Canberra. In this house legislation can be put forward, questions asked, matters raised and motions put. The Greens will use these mechanisms to the fullest possible extent to ensure transparency and accountability in the government and to progress Greens policies. The committee system has, until now, provided a forum for members to work together across party divisions. The Greens have proposed that the community services and social equity committee be re-established, since many important issues not covered in other committees but important to the ACT community can be discussed there. We would also like the opportunity to work in other committees so that the Greens’ perspective can be included in committee deliberations.
In the past Assembly Kerrie Tucker worked critically and cooperatively with the government, and it is my intention to do the same. As I understand it, the job of the crossbench is to be constructively critical of government and opposition, and I hope my interventions are received in this spirit. I will work in good faith that the government is open to the Greens’ perspectives on legislation and government policy, respond frankly and in detail to my questions, take on board our concerns, listen with open minds to the motions and legislation I propose and respond with the best interests of Canberra and its people at heart.
As a green I am committed to good, open processes, accountability and a cooperative style. In this spirit I approach my first term as a Greens MLA. I will work hard to
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