Page 1805 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2022

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They have at least updated his speeches with respect to that. It is as if he just pulls it out of the top drawer and repeats it.

Let us go to this point because this is quite serious. He talked about us being “devoid of mainstream ideas”. The fact is that $8.87 million of taxpayer funds were grossly misused. Every single leader of the parties in this chamber has admitted that it does not pass the pub test. The Minister for Skills himself said that he had concerns, yet his own ministerial colleague comes into this place and says, “How dare you waste our time bringing forward this motion, because I have some very important ministerial statements that have been pre-written that I wanted to read out onto the record.” This is ridiculous, un-ministerial behaviour from Minister Gentleman.

Dr Paterson also spoke numerous times about what a waste of time this is. These are shocking statements by Dr Paterson and Minister Gentleman, when they say that bringing forward a gross misuse of public funds is a waste of time. That is absolutely shocking. I wish that I could say that I was surprised, but once again we see what happens when we bring forward motions of great public importance in this place. Labor and the Greens know that this does not pass the pub test. We have a minister who has admitted that he knew about these dodgy contracts 15 months ago. Whether it was through incompetence or complicity, frankly, it does not matter. After he knew about these dodgy contracts, a further $5.5 million of taxpayer funds went to the same consultant.

Let the record show that today is the day that, despite the Greens admitting that this does not pass the pub test, they will vote to protect their political partner, putting that interest above the interests of the Canberra community. Let the record show that when the Chief Minister had the opportunity to say very clearly to the public that this is unacceptable, instead he and his rabble delivered a sanctimonious lecture to do better. Well, Chief Minister, do better. Do better to ensure that your ministers are doing their jobs. Do better for the people of Canberra. The Canberra Liberals have no confidence in the Minister for Skills. I bring forward this motion today on behalf of the hardworking teachers and students at CIT and the Canberra community, who deserve better than what this Labor-Greens government is putting out.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question resolved in the negative.

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