Mary in Malta - April 2006

It's been a while since my last entry, and I apologise.

The first few months of the year have been busy ones in the Assembly with highly critical legislation being debated and passed.

Amongst these was the ACT's own Terrorism Legislation which we introduced in place of the Commonwealth's model. As you know the ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction to have its own Human Rights legislation and the Terrorism Bill needed to be compliant. On the same day that the above Bill was debated and passed the Civil Unions Bill was also debated and passed, an emotional day indeed!

So far during the first few weeks of sitting and excluding the May sitting weeks I have spoken on the following:

• The importance of the National Multicultural Festival in maintaining ethnic diversity and harmony in the ACT community.
• Emergency Services Authority, volunteers,
• Employment and unemployment, skilled labour shortage,
• Policing, services,
• Prisons and prisoners, Maconochie reforms,
• Transport, sustainable plan,
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation, funding,
• Union Picnic Day
• Women, International Women's Day,
• Navrang concert,
• Community fire units,
• Charnwood, Charny Carni,
• Children, health programs,
• Electoral, voting age,
• Industrial relations
• Working families,
• Scouts ACT, recruitment,
• Therapy ACT, northside service.

All the Standing Committees, the Select Committees and Advisory Committees continue, with an interim report being presented to the Assembly by my Standing Committee ion Education in relation to the Restorative Justice Inquiry, and the Working Families Select Committee. Hearings still Continue for the Health Committee in its Inquiry into Alternative Accommodation Options for People Living with Mental Illness. I am on the Select Committee for Estimates again this year and this year as its Chair. The ACT Budget, delayed by our functional; review, will be brought down during the sitting week in June on June 6th.

In April I had the opportunity to attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association European and British Islands Conference in Malta as an observer for Australia. This was a fantastic opportunity and very interesting conference. Two topics under discussion of particular interest were the treatment of what are known as illegal immigrants here, there known as irregular and innocent until proven otherwise, and secondly the relationship between the Commonwealth and the EU, in particular in relation to trade and the use of the Euro. I will have additional papers very shortly and be able to provide a more comprehensive outline of discussions to those who are interested.

Mary in Malta - April 2006

While in Malta I was pleased to be invited by the Australian High Commissioner to Malta, Richard Palk, to attend the ANZAC Day Ceremony, and afterwards to enjoy, with others who attended the ceremony, his hospitality at his home. I Believe at least 200 people were present at the truly moving ceremony.

The Mobile Offices commenced again in February after a short break in January, and, apart from when away for the CPA conference, continue each weekend. Updated information about this can be found on the front page of my website.

There has been so many events, forums and official representations I have undertaken in the first four and 1/2 months of this year that I thought it best to share with you a number of particular events that will give you a flavour of my work, I hope you enjoy reading them. As always please do not hesitate to contact me with any issues or to make a comment or observation.

Chief Commissioner Scouts ACT Neville Tomkins with Mary at the launch of the Scouts Leadership drive

• Scouts ACT has the fastest growing membership of any region in the country.
• 'More than Armchair Aerobics' - Goodwin Village’s innovative new centre-based day program
• Drug Law Reform Forum - It is important that as a community we have the debate about drug law reform
• Chief Minister's Lifetime Achievement Award - This year's recipient: Alan Foskett
• Canberra Gold Award - presented to those who have lived in Canberra for over 50 years in recognition of their contribution to our community
• Debutante Balls - the first for young indigenous women and the second for older women who are members of the Belconnen Senior Citizens Club
• Belconnen and Northern Arts Network ACT (BANANA) - The Arts have the power to build communities, bringing people together in discussion about art and its meaning in our own lives and in the life of our community
• Charnwood Carnival: 3rd year - bigger and better than ever before; a great example of how people getting together are able to achieve great things
• Motorcycle Riders Association - a new safety course was conducted by Honda Australia Rider Training on behalf of the Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT
• Community Fire Units - Thanks to the 450 fully trained and equipped volunteers in the 28 Community Fire Units (CFUs) in suburbs around the ACT with bush interface, Canberra is now a safer place to live.
• CAT Awards - It was amateur theatre's night of nights. The major winner on the Award night was the Belconnen based company Phoenix Players
• West Belconnen health centre feasibility study - The prospect of a health centre in West Belconnen is closer to being a reality

Mary.