22 June 2023, 17:58
Victorian Legislative Council, Melbourne
Written Submission
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My adjournment matter is for the Attorney-General and relates to the Lord’s Prayer.
Back on 7 March 2023, I referred the Attorney to her undertaking in the last term of Parliament, on 4 August 2021, that:
‘A Labor government, if re-elected, at the beginning of the next term and as part of the consideration of changes to standing and sessional orders will commit to workshopping a replacement model that is purpose-fit for Victoria.’ And I asked whether that workshopping had occurred and whether a replacement model was imminent.
And Attorney-General, you were kind enough to answer, that:
‘Indeed it was a commitment that I gave in the last government to workshop potential replacements for the Lord’s Prayer. We know that it is a vastly different chamber and a vastly different community from a hundred years ago, when the Lord’s Prayer was established … I reiterate that commitment. It is something that has been raised with me from a number of members in this chamber from a variety of parties. I think it is not a matter for the government; it is not a matter for the executive. It is a matter for this chamber and a matter for the other chamber. I concur that consistency is appropriate, and I am sure many people in this chamber would have a view. I am certainly happy to collate that and come up with a proposal following those discussions and discussions across the way. It is a commitment that is not yet met, so I stand by that commitment.’
We at Legalise Cannabis Victoria were very grateful for that commitment and look forward to that progress.
With the passage of almost four months since that exchange, the action I seek is that the Attorney-General update the house on her progress in this regard and the shape of the proposal that she is collating.
**Answer Pending**
[ENDS]
