Page 255 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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establishing this commission. I was pleased to see, through the course of the election campaign, that both the Labor Party and the Liberal Party also adopted this policy position, so I think there is fertile ground here to achieve a good outcome. We think that looking at other jurisdictions and how they have done it is a very valuable thing that we can do, because there will be both positive and negative lessons out of what other jurisdictions have experienced that the ACT will be fortunate to be able to draw on.
I intend to nominate as the chair of this committee, given that the notice of motion indicates a crossbench chair. I will, on behalf of the Greens, nominate for that position. I look forward to working with colleagues to get on with this and strike the right balance between looking at the very detailed work that needs to be done and getting it done in as timely a manner as possible so that we can move to drafting legislation and putting the commission in place in as timely a manner as possible.
I know there is significant interest in this in the community. I imagine that in the course of recent times all members have had somebody come to them and say that they feel they need to have an opportunity to look at some issues in a forensic way. For me, that is an important part of this story. As individual members, most of us would not have, perhaps, the forensic skills to examine the very detailed matters that might warrant examination. Having some experts that can do that on our behalf and outside of that immediate political discourse is a valuable thing.
I do not want to say too much today; it is for the committee to examine these matters in detail. I look forward to working with colleagues to get this done, as I said, in an effective and timely matter.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (12.21): Madam Speaker, the opposition supports the establishment of the select committee.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
2016 ACT Election and Electoral Act—Select Committee
Establishment
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Urban Renewal) (12.22): I move:
That:
(1) a select committee be established to review the operation of the 2016 ACT election and the Electoral Act and other relevant legislation and policies in regards to election-related matters, and make recommendations on:
(a) lowering the voting age;
(b) improving donation rules and donation reporting timeframes;
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