Page 5620 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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advocacy the Chief Minister has undertaken over the past seven years to raise awareness of how the self-government act impacts on the democratic rights of our citizens and the need for a joint review of the act.
Senator Brown has also moved the Restoring Territory Rights (Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation) Bill 2010, which, if successful, will restore the rights of territory assemblies to legislate in the area of euthanasia. The bill, if passed, would not legalise euthanasia, either here or in the Northern Territory. I think that is a very important point to make, because the debate about this has become somewhat confused of late. It would simply allow the citizens of the ACT to have this issue debated and their views represented in this place. The bill in question is one of democracy and genuine self-determination. The bill is not about euthanasia, and one should not view it in this vein. Unfortunately, the discussion so far in the media has tended to indicate that it is, and therefore to cloud the real issue.
This Assembly may not necessarily support voluntary euthanasia legislation, but it should have the right, on behalf of the people of the ACT, to do so if it so chooses. What justice is there in the current situation where the New South Wales parliament or the Tasmanian parliament may debate and legislate for euthanasia but not a territory parliament? Our citizens should have the same rights as other Australians to debate the issue of voluntary euthanasia. Our citizens of the ACT should have the same right to debate and legislate on any issues, for that matter. The commonwealth law is preventing us from exercising our democratic mandate and this is a legislative blunt instrument that should be removed.
The motion also mentions the issue of the size of the Assembly. This has been debated in previous assemblies and discussed openly with the community. Members would all know the breadth of concerns that we have to deal with each and every day. As a member for Ginninderra, the residents of Belconnen, I believe, should have access to their local member. This is a role I take very seriously. Through my regular mobile offices, I seek to ensure that I am accessible to my constituents. And whilst my door is always open, I am also determined to come to them. I visit people in their own homes, I talk with the community at the Belconnen markets and other shopping centres and I attend many community forums. We have an expanding population and an increasing complexity of issues, yet we as a parliament are powerless to determine the size of the Assembly to deal with such issues. (Quorum formed.)
Mr Stanhope: No Liberals responded to the call.
MR SPEAKER: Order, thank you. Ms Porter has the floor.
Mr Smyth: The bells did not ring for four minutes, Chief Minister.
Mr Stanhope: No Liberals responded to the call.
MR SPEAKER: Order, members!
Mr Smyth: Don’t you know your standing orders? There are four minutes.
Mr Stanhope: No Liberals responded to the call.
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