Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I want to say right at the outset that the Greens completely oppose the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment Bill 2023. We completely oppose the bill debated today by Senator Canavan and find it to be quite a ludicrous proposition. Now, during the course of this debate there have been comparisons made between the Greens position opposing this bill and our current oppositional position in relation to the development of the Beetaloo gas basin and our support for inquiries into that project. Let me make very clear the distinction which we draw between an issue such as the ACT government making decisions in the best interests of its community in the commission of its public health service and the Beetaloo basin. One proposition is in the public good, the other proposition is demonstrably against the public good.