Page 763 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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What I was clearly trying to indicate to the people of the Northbourne Flats was that any suggestion that the bulldozers were revving up ready to roll was a clear fabrication and a figment of the imagination of Mrs Grassby. My press release concluded with the statement that by continually making wild and unfounded claims on the sale, Mrs Grassby was indulging in political terrorism of the worst kind, with government tenants caught in the crossfire.
I pointed out that, after all, the only sales of government housing approved since self-government were by Mrs Grassby as former housing Minister. I wondered whether the Federal election had anything to do with such irresponsible silliness.
In my closing comments in relation to Mrs Grassby, let me just refer to a letter that was published in the Canberra Times on Saturday, 3 March 1990. The letter was signed by Janet J. Moore from Scullin. I will read it into the Hansard so that members can understand the sort of concern that has been caused by the kind of irrational statements being made by Mrs Grassby. The letter says:
Just what does Ellnor Grassby think she is about?
I was at a community group with other community workers, near Northbourne Flats, on Monday, February 26. I was approached by a number of extremely distressed residents, Ellnor's letter in hand.
The residents of the Northbourne Flats really have enough to deal with without the added stress caused by someone who appears to be trying to score political points at others' expense.
I feel a public apology, at least, is in order.
I hope that at some stage during the proceedings this afternoon Mrs Grassby will take the opportunity offered to her by the Assembly this afternoon to give a clear, unequivocal apology to the people of the Northbourne Flats for her reprehensible behaviour in this arena.
MR WHALAN (4.09): Mr Speaker, I address my remarks not to the amendment because I will seek to rise later to speak to that, but to the substantive motion.
A member: You cannot do that!
MR WHALAN: You are not in the chair yet. I do not know when you are going to throw the Speaker out, but it is not today. The question that is before this chamber has nothing whatsoever to do with dorothy dixers; it has nothing whatsoever to do with the personal insults which have been resorted in his defence to by the person who is
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