Page 360 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 2019
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such as housing and community services and which, over time, would take control of all government functions that could be extracted from the commonwealth.
By December 1985 Mr Scholes released a plan for a model for the territory’s governance which is not far from where we are today. It was a proposal for a single-chamber council of 13 members elected by optional preferential voting for a four-year term, the key difference being that there would have been 13 electorates. One key part of the model was that the ACT would not have a lord mayor, thereby not making it a local municipal government, as many expected. This is why we are the only capital city in Australia without one today. A key decider in why we are not solely a municipal government is that the Hawke government agreed to the ACT being a part of the state-federal financial relations system.
Obviously, there was almost another decade of detailed debate about exactly what self-government would look like, and whether it should even happen at all. I think members here are all starkly aware of those debates. Importantly, I think we have a lot to thank Mr Scholes for. As I understand it, he had to lobby within his party, including Prime Minister Bob Hawke, for the ACT to be able to self-govern.
The Hon Gordon Scholes retired from federal parliament in 1993. The ACT Greens convey our thoughts and sympathies at this time to his family and friends.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee
Scrutiny report 27
MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (10.14): I present the following report:
Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee (Legislative Scrutiny Role)—Scrutiny Report 27, dated 18 February 2019, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I seek leave to make a brief statement.
Leave granted.
MRS JONES: Scrutiny report 27 contains the committee’s comments on 44 pieces of subordinate legislation, one regulatory impact statement, two government responses and proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Bill 2018 (No 2). The report was circulated to members when the Assembly was not sitting, and I commend the report to the Assembly.
Economic Development and Tourism—Standing Committee
Report 5
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (10.14): I present the following report:
Economic Development and Tourism—Standing Committee—Report 5—Report on Annual and Financial Reports 2017-2018, dated 7 February 2019, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
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