Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches
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REFERENDUMS BILL 1998
(This an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available under the condition that it is recognised as such.)
Bill presented and read a first time.
Mr STONE (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
Last week, I indicated that, during these sittings, I would introduce a bill to facilitate the holding of referendums in the Territory. This is that bill. Although the need for the bill at this time is to enable various questions relating to statehood for the Territory to be put to the people, as I have indicated they should be, the bill itself is not specific to particular questions or classes of questions. It allows for any question to be put to a referendum if a resolution of the Legislative Assembly, on the motion of the Attorney-General, so requires. In short, the act will be one of general application that can be called on from time to time in the future.
Honourable members will see that there is nothing particularly novel in the bill itself. It is closely modelled on the current Northern Territory Electoral Act. It has most of the features of that legislation required to elicit the opinion of the people. The Territory will be treated as a single electorate for the counting of votes and the question will be carried by a simple majority. It is also quite similar to legislation to be found in several of the states that provides for matters to be determined by referendum.
This is indeed an historic occasion. Since the grant of self-government, we have not had a referendum bill. It is with great pleasure that I now introduce this legislation. I commend the bill to members.
Debate adjourned.
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