Religious tension between the ACT’s Chief Minister and the Speaker of the Assembly has escalated nearly three weeks before the chamber is first due to sit.
Liberals’ speaker Vicki Dunne has become more insistent that Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and her Labor MLAs join in a church service to mark the beginning of the new Assembly on February 11.
But Ms Gallagher is insisting “as a matter of principle” that she and her colleagues will not take part in the
ceremony.
Liberal Vicki Dunne wants all MLAs to attend a church service to mark the beginning of the new Assembly.
Mrs Dunne first contacted the Chief Minister about the service in December and said her refusal to attend suggested "people of faith are not important".
The Speaker wrote to Ms Gallagher again last week asking her to attend the service and to join a procession at the beginning of the ceremony and address the congregation.
Notwithstanding the Labor Party’s stance on the issue, I still am pleased to invite you, as the Territory’s Chief Minister, to attend and participate in the service,” Mrs Dunne said in her letter.
“Firstly, I invite you to walk with me in the procession at the commencement and in the recession at the conclusion of the service.
“Secondly, I invite you to speak to offer a greeting to the gathering. I would appreciate your cooperation by keeping the greeting to about 300 words.”
Mrs Dunne said the service would be conducted according to Christian liturgy, but she would invite representatives from the “broader spiritual community” to the event.
“I hope this church service will establish a strong and lasting link between the Assembly and the many spiritual communities across Canberra,” the letter said.
In her reply, Ms Gallagher reiterated the government’s stance that “as a matter of principle, we are opposed to creating a formal nexus between religious worship and the Legislative Assembly.”
The Chief Minister said Canberra had been "well-served" by the secular basis of the Assembly.
“It remains the government’s view that the Assembly’s neutrality on matters of religion should be maintained,” she said.
“I therefore advise that I will not be accepting your invitation to attend and participate in the service, but I wish you all the best for the day.”
Mrs Dunne confirmed on Tuesday that the ceremony would go ahead whether the Chief Minister attended or not.
As is completely proper I extended an invitation to the Chief Minister,” she said.
“Whether the Chief Minister decides to attend this community event or not is completely her decision.”
