Page 2491 - Week 07 - Monday, 15 August 2022

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Mr Steel mentioned that he will be continuing to negotiate with all his colleagues in relation to the budget. If the Greens decide to pull their heads in and agree not to vote against this expenditure, what an utter farce this will be! The Greens will be saying to the public that it was all for show, and they are as unprincipled as ever. They attempt to throw it back at us and say, “Oh well, you know what—it’s the opposition’s turn to be kingmakers and to make the call whether they want to sit with us the Greens or they want to sit with Labor.” This is a farce. The mere fact that this government may require votes from the opposition to pass their own budget makes a mockery of this parliament!

How about this: why not have the Leader of the Opposition sit as a member of the government’s Expenditure Review Committee? Why not have ministers from all three parties? Why not? Why not do away with government and opposition altogether?

Mr Barr: I don’t think you have the skills to sit on the ERC, but thank you for the application!

MS LEE: That is rich coming from somebody who has Mick Gentleman in the cabinet!

This Labor-Greens government is making a mockery of our parliament—our people’s parliament. Using their votes to dictate that rules simply do not apply to them is the greatest disrespect they can show our democratic system.

This is a truly extraordinary event that we have witnessed today. It has cemented, once again, that Labor and the Greens have absolutely no integrity, accountability or respect for the very institution that they have affirmed they would be faithful to. In doing so, they have shown utter contempt for the people of the ACT.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 9

Noes 16

Mr Cain

Mr Barr

Ms Orr

Ms Castley

Ms Berry

Dr Paterson

Mr Cocks

Mr Braddock

Mr Pettersson

Mr Hanson

Ms Burch

Mr Rattenbury

Mrs Kikkert

Ms Cheyne

Mr Steel

Ms Lawder

Ms Clay

Ms Stephen-Smith

Ms Lee

Ms Davidson

Ms Vassarotti

Mr Milligan

Mr Davis

Mr Parton

Mr Gentleman

Question resolved in the negative.

Sitting suspended from 10.04 to 10.18 am.

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