Page 643 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 28 March 2006
Next page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Tuesday, 28 March 2006
The Assembly met at 10.30 am.
(Quorum formed.)
MR SPEAKER (Mr Berry) took the chair, made a formal recognition that the Assembly was meeting on the lands of the traditional owners, and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Resignation of member
MR SPEAKER: Pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly of 27 March 1992, which authorises me to receive written notice of the resignation of a member, I wish to inform the Assembly that I have received a written notice of resignation from Mr Quinlan, dated 21 March 2006. Pursuant to subsection 13 (3) of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988, I present the following papers:
Quinlan, Mr T—Resignation of office as Member—
Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), pursuant to subsection 13 (3)—Copy of letter of resignation, dated 21 March 2006.
Copy of letter from the Speaker to the Electoral Commissioner, ACT Electoral Commission, dated 21 March 2006.
Pairing arrangements
Statement by member
MRS BURKE (Molonglo): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a statement in relation to pairing arrangements.
Leave granted.
MRS BURKE: Mr Speaker, I want to make a short comment on the arrangements to which the opposition has agreed, let me make that very clear, following the resignation of Mr Quinlan from the Assembly last week. We do wish him all the very best. Mr Quinlan resigned from the Assembly close to a sitting of the Assembly, something that we found rather strange. We had our first sitting week for March, then a break, and we were thinking that Mr Quinlan may have finished out the remaining sitting period for the March quarter.
We did wonder why he had resigned just before this sitting week rather than just after it, as there will be a five-week break before the next sitting. Of course, it was open to him to decide on that. I would say that the timing of Mr Quinlan’s resignation does appear to have been a little strange and, I guess, disappointing. The government may feel that it has been left in the lurch a little. The constituents of Molonglo may also feel a little duped.
Next page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .