Page 1861 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2011
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I would ask: what member of this chamber does not already undertake more than the three days that Ms Porter feels we must mandate? I respectfully suggest it is somewhat offensive to presume that we do not already engage in such activities. That is why, on behalf of the opposition, I will seek leave to move amendments to the motion. I think it is important if we recognise the valuable work that volunteers in our community provide that we also acknowledge the role that that we as members of this Assembly play in our support of volunteer organisations.
As I have already suggested, I think it is unnecessary to mandate any volunteer work that we may offer in our private time. Indeed, is it not a principle of volunteering that it is not compulsory; that volunteering is a matter of choice? Ms Porter’s motion removes that choice. By suggesting that this Assembly lead by example and undertake at least three days of volunteering each year, there is at least a suggestion that any volunteer activity we may choose to do in the future is in fact predicated on our commitment to this motion.
I think subparagraph 2(c) of her motion is totally unnecessary and rather denigrates what is otherwise an appropriate recognition of the importance of volunteering. I would urge Ms Porter and members of the Assembly to instead adopt the opposition’s alternative wording. I do commend Ms Porter for her motion overall. I do support and the Liberal Party supports the ethos of volunteers and the commitment of the many, many thousands of people in Canberra who volunteer, as Ms Porter and I have pointed out in our respective speeches.
But I do urge us to just have a little bit of logic about this. This would make an extremely good script for a Monty Python sketch or for John Cleese to have a look at because I think it is just incredible. The principle of volunteerism is that it is not compulsory. Volunteering is a matter of choice. So I hope that there is some logic. But, overall, I do commend Ms Porter for the majority, the other sections, of her motion.
I seek leave to move my amendments together.
Leave granted.
MR DOSZPOT: I move:
(1) Insert new subparagraph (1)(f):
“(f) the importance of Members in this Assembly in supporting volunteer organisations in the ACT; and”.
(2) Omit paragraph (2), substitute:
“(2) calls on:
(a) the ACT Government to promote this existing community service leave entitlement to all staff within ACT Government agencies;
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