Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was not until 1966 that federal representatives of Canberra were given full voting rights in this parliament—1966! Twenty three years later the first Legislative Assembly was elected and Canberrans were finally given the power to decide the future for their own communities, were finally given some semblance of equality—for the most part—but not entire equality. The territory rights bill, which will be before the Senate this week, will argue in favour of that equality. There are 700,000 people in the ACT and the Northern Territory. There are 500,000 people in Tasmania. Canberrans and Territorians deserve the same rights as people have in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. We deserve those same rights—700,000 of us.

In the past, we have been denied that equality of rights. In 2018, it is only fair that all territorians have the same rights as those in the states. It is only fair, and that is the issue that is being debated this week in the Senate. I encourage senators to ensure that equality is enjoyed by all Australians, not just those who reside in the states.