Page 1937 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 5 August 2014
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beyond the end of 2014. The petition had many more signatures than the 1,993 mentioned by the Clerk this morning. However, many of them are those of residents outside the ACT who rely on the services provided in the territory for children with a disability.
Again, this is a public call by these families that currently access these services or are looking to access these services next year—to have them maintained to ensure that there is a continuum for their children to receive appropriate early intervention services to give their kids the best start in life.
I look forward to hearing the response from the minister in the coming weeks or months. I hope that once and for all she finally listens to the calls of Canberra families to maintain these services.
Amendments to the Electoral Act 1992—Select Committee
Report
MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to order, and as the committee circulated its report on 30 June 2014, I present the following report:
Amendments to the Electoral Act 1992—Select Committee—Report—Voting Matters, dated 30 June 2014, incorporating a dissenting report (Mr Rattenbury), together with a copy of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
Just to clarify for members, I am presenting this report because the chair of the committee is now a member of the executive.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Minister for Children and Young People and Minister for Ageing) (10.54), by leave: I move:
That the report be noted.
The committee, established by the Assembly on 20 March this year to consider a wide range of electoral issues, comprised me, Mr Coe and Mr Rattenbury. In accordance with the terms of reference, the report was released on 30 June this year. On all but two of the report’s 18 recommendations, the committee was in agreement. I thank Mr Coe and Mr Rattenbury for their input.
In 2012 the Assembly passed major reforms to the Electoral Act concerning campaign financing. Transparency in political donations and limits on campaign expenditure are essential to ensuring that our political system is free from undue influence, both actual and perceived, and that a level playing field between electoral contestants is promoted. At the same time, voters must not be prevented from getting the information they need to make an informed choice, or from advocating on issues that are concerning to them.
The ACT Electoral Commissioner’s report on the 2012 ACT election and the committee’s consideration of the issues indicate that the 2012 reforms are generally working well, even if some adjustments are needed two years down the track. Some
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