DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY HANSARD 26 August 1998 26 August 1998 Wednesday, 26 August 1998 Petition: Arts - funding .................................................................................1317 Paper .............................................................................................................1318 Death of Mr Billy Craigie...............................................................................1318 Death of Professor Lindsay Dixon Pryor, AO.................................................1321 Death of Admiral Sir Victor Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC................................1324 Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 1998 ...............................1326 Coroners (Amendment) Bill 1998...................................................................1327 Oaths and Affirmations (Amendment) Bill 1998 .............................................1328 Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1998.............................................1328 Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 1998 ...............................................1328 Limitation (Amendment) Bill 1998.................................................................1331 Health Regulation (Abortions) Bill 1998 ........................................................1332 Statement by Minister ....................................................................................1335 Institute of the Arts - government funding......................................................1342 Questions without notice: Mental health counsellor.....................................................................1347 Business Development Fund...............................................................1348 Possession of document......................................................................1349 Goods and services tax.......................................................................1352 Casino Canberra - licensed club ..........................................................1353 Marketing and promotion campaign contract......................................1354 Bus fares ............................................................................................1355 Planning and Land Management .........................................................1356 BEPCON office, Phillip......................................................................1356 Health Regulation (Abortions) Bill 1998 ........................................................1358 Personal explanations.....................................................................................1363 Authority to broadcast proceedings................................................................1367 State of the Environment Report 1997 ...........................................................1367 Code of conduct for Ministers........................................................................1370 Papers............................................................................................................1371 Legal Aid Commission...................................................................................1372 Paper .............................................................................................................1372 Business program for 1998-99 - Mr Moore....................................................1372 Burbidge inquiry - assessment of legal action (Ministerial statement)..............1383 Justice and Community Safety - standing committee.......................................1384 Urban Services - standing committee..............................................................1385 Urban Services - standing committee..............................................................1386 Urban Services - standing committee..............................................................1387 Land (Planning and Environment) Act - variations Nos 91 and 93 to the Territory Plan......................................................................................1387 Institute of the Arts - government funding......................................................1388 Adjournment: Arts - Funding....................................................................................1418 Mr Alan Hocking ...............................................................................1420 Mr Alan Hocking : Canberra Raiders..................................................1421 Floriade..............................................................................................1422 Wednesday, 26 August 1998 _________________________ MR SPEAKER (Mr Cornwell) took the chair at 10.30 am and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory. PETITION The Clerk: The following petition has been lodged for presentation: By Mr Wood, from 6,773 residents, requesting that the Assembly reverse the decision to cut $1.6m to the Institute of the Arts so that it can continue to provide a worthwhile resource within Canberra. The terms of this petition will be recorded in Hansard and a copy referred to the appropriate Minister. Arts - Funding The petition read as follows: To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory: The petition of supporters of the Arts in the Australian Capital Territory, draws to the attention of the Assembly the cut of $1.6 million to the Institute of the Arts, as part of the 1998 budget, which will impact on the delivery of services by the Canberra Schools of Music and Art to the community and will adversely affect the quality of life in Canberra. Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to reverse the decision, so that the Institute of Arts can continue to provide a worthwhile resource within Canberra. Petition received. 1317 26 August 1998 PAPER MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I ask for leave to present a petition which does not conform with standing orders. Leave granted. MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I present an out-of-order petition, being sketches from 103 residents protesting against the cuts to arts funding. Maybe this could find its way to the Performing Arts Advisory Committee in due course. MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Wood. DEATH OF MR BILLY CRAIGIE MS TUCKER: I move: That the Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Craigie, who made a significant contribution to Aboriginal rights and issues in the Territory and tenders its profound sympathy to his widow, children and grandchild in their bereavement. Mr Speaker, Billy Craigie was a leading Aboriginal activist and gave all of his life to the promotion of Aboriginal issues and land rights. He was a Gomilaroy warrior. His country was near Moree, where he was taken to be buried two weeks ago. He was buried in a full Aboriginal ceremony. Ceremony was something he was responsible for bringing back to Aboriginal people to reignite their culture and pride. He was a founding father of the Aboriginal Legal Service, of which he was vice-chairman for over 20 years. The Legal Service helped set up the Aboriginal tent embassy on the lawns of the Old Parliament House in 1972. Throughout his life he promoted the rights of indigenous peoples, both in Australia and overseas. He represented Aboriginals at international forums, such as the United Nations Conference on Indigenous Peoples in Geneva. He never lost sight, however, of the needs of individuals across Australia. Matilda House described him as someone who made a difference in the lives of Aboriginal people on a daily basis. He was integral in setting up a friends network for Aboriginal people in custody, and maintained the community link with prisoners. He also helped develop the Aboriginal medical and health services. He was also concerned about issues surrounding Aboriginal education and through the Legal Service developed the legal indigenous training program that trains Aboriginal people on Australian and Aboriginal laws. 1318 26 August 1998 Billy Craigie was also a man who lived by his principles. He respected humanity and the protection of the rights of all. This often led him to be a critic of various governments. He was strong and uncompromising in his approach, always focusing on the positive, with ideas for change, rather than limiting himself to reactionary sentiment, and this is perhaps why he was considered a champion for and by the Aboriginal people. He is survived by his wife Isobel Coe, children and a grandchild. MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Mr Speaker, it is with much sadness that I learnt of the recent death of Mr Bill Craigie. I rise here to pay tribute to his contributions as an Aboriginal and as an Australian. It is important to realise that his contributions were to the broader Australian community as well as to the broad Aboriginal community, both here in the ACT and in New South Wales. As Ms Tucker said, he was born in the New South Wales town of Moree. He spent a great deal of his time, though, in the Canberra region and became an active member of the Aboriginal community. He devoted a great deal of his life to gaining recognition for Aboriginal people and to fighting for Aboriginal rights. He was determined that Aboriginals would know the true history of their country. He spoke at functions across Australia - I am sure many of us heard him speak - in an attempt to correct the myth that Aboriginal people somehow relinquished their land. Mr Craigie was active in Aboriginal community organisations across Australia. As Ms Tucker said, he was