slim majority had been further reduced by a bout of influenza, and on 1 August during a debate on a bill, the Opposition parties carried an amendment against the government. The Premier put the Parliament into recess and upon its recommencement he introduced the Legislative Assembly Act Amendment Bill, to make provision for proxy voting of members absent through ill health. The Opposition parties fought hard against the Bill, and when it was sent to the Governor for assent, His Excellency remonstrated strongly with the Premier against his demand that it be assented to forthwith. The provision was used extensively after its initial introduction but has only been used twice since that time, in the mid-1980s. There is no provision in Statute or Standing Orders that addresses breastfeeding and no precedent of a member breastfeeding in the chamber. However the situation in the ACT Legislative Assembly is governed by Section 18 (2)of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 which states: 18 Procedure at meetings (2) Questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting, unless a special majority is required by the standing rules and orders. The terms “voting” and “present” preclude a vote from a Member not seated in the Chamber and so proxy voting in the ACT Legislative Assembly is not an option unless the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 is amended. Chair April 2016
slim majority had been further reduced by a bout of influenza, and on 1 August during a debate on a bill, the Opposition parties carried an amendment against the government. The Premier put the Parliament into recess and upon its recommencement he introduced the Legislative Assembly Act Amendment Bill, to make provision for proxy voting of members absent through ill health. The Opposition parties fought hard against the Bill, and when it was sent to the Governor for assent, His Excellency remonstrated strongly with the Premier against his demand that it be assented to forthwith. The provision was used extensively after its initial introduction but has only been used twice since that time, in the mid-1980s. There is no provision in Statute or Standing Orders that addresses breastfeeding and no precedent of a member breastfeeding in the chamber. However the situation in the ACT Legislative Assembly is governed by Section 18 (2)of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 which states: 18 Procedure at meetings (2) Questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting, unless a special majority is required by the standing rules and orders. The terms “voting” and “present” preclude a vote from a Member not seated in the Chamber and so proxy voting in the ACT Legislative Assembly is not an option unless the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 is amended. Chair April 2016
family-friendly-workplace-report-8-FINAL.docx