Senate debates

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Bills

Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022; In Committee

9:34 am

Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

Can I say in response to what has just happened, this is a historic moment for the territories. This has been something that I've been fighting for for over a decade, including when I was Chief Minister of the ACT. The Senate has just expressed its will with a vote of 41 to 25 in favour of the territories having rights restored that were taken away from them in 1997. I want to mark this moment and I want to thank everybody for the way that we've conducted this but also for their support for the rights of the territories.

We are in the hands of the Senate. There is a committee process. We are in committee. I think it's the preference that we would be able to move through the committee stage quickly and resolve this matter today if that's able to be done. The Senate does move quickly at times, and we have to be nimble and ready for it. The preference would be to get it done, to get the final vote today. I think the second reading vote indicates the overwhelming support of the Senate to deal with this bill and to reach its conclusion after a long period of time. But the committee process is there for senators to utilise.

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