Page 621 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 May 1992
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MR DE DOMENICO (11.21): I am happy to stand and support the motion of my colleague Mr Humphries. Madam Speaker, the essence of this debate can perhaps be encapsulated in one phrase. I think that what we are hearing from the other side of the house is: Even though something has worked for 60 years, will it work in theory? If it happens not to work in theory, let us get rid of it. Let us get realistic, for goodness sake. We are talking about not a young man, as Mr Westende said, but someone who hopefully will live until 107 and even more. This man is 87 years old and he has 60 or more years of hands-on experience of what can and cannot be done in the particular area that he has been on and that his family has been associated with for over 60 years.
With respect, Madam Speaker, I, for one, am prepared to take the advice of someone in that sort of situation who knows, loves and has worked in the area for over 60 years, rather than what may be said from time to time by someone with a different point of view. I believe that there ought to be some sort of sensitivity for the fact that Mr Russell has been there for such a long time. Let me also say, though, and Mr Westende said it quite rightly - - -
Mr Moore: Well, don't say it again.
MR DE DOMENICO: There is a voice from up yonder. I will say it again, Mr Moore. If you want to contribute to the debate, your turn will come later on, perhaps. I will say it once again, Madam Speaker. I am sorry for taking on that interjection. The community around Red Hill also want Mr Russell to retain his influence there and to have his cows graze there. The community - - -
Mr Moore: I take a point of order, Madam Speaker. In a minor interjection I pointed out that Mr De Domenico was being repetitive. Instead of taking it in the spirit of a suggestion like that, he has insisted on being repetitive, and, of course, that is not appropriate under our standing orders.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you for pointing that out to me, Mr Moore. Mr De Domenico, would you continue, please.
MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you, Madam Speaker, for your correct ruling.
Mr Moore: It was not a ruling. She just told you to continue.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Moore, I trust that those remarks were not directed at me.
Mr Moore: Not at all, Madam Speaker; at Mr De Domenico.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you. That was a ruling. Mr De Domenico can continue.
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, as I said before, it is community involvement as well that we need to talk about. Quite a number of people who live in Red Hill get involved in the heritage of seeing cows and horses graze in an area which is right in the middle of residential Canberra. We also need to think about the tourist potential. It is all well and good saying, as Mr Lamont did, that I too like to see cows grazing, because it is a very important aspect of Canberra as you and I know it. There are people from overseas who wonder in amazement when they play golf at the Royal Canberra golf course and see kangaroos hop by them, or, when driving by or even looking at the new Parliament House, see cows grazing over the hillside. That is another important aspect as well.
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