Page 1456 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 11 August 1992
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MR DE DOMENICO: Well, you are, are you not? Perhaps you can answer that later on, Mr Wood. Would it not be logical to wait and see what the collective minds of those honourable people decide, before we go our own way and once again become the laughing-stock of this country?
As Mr Humphries quite correctly said, and as I see it, there is nothing to stop the circuses with elephants, tigers and lions performing in Queanbeyan. I am glad Ms Ellis went to Tuggeranong. She would have told Mr Lamont that nearly 8,500 people, over two days, expressed their view on elephants and performing tigers when they said, "We are delighted to be here; we are delighted to bring our children here". Mr Stevenson was there as well. If he had done a survey he would have told you that all of the people who were there - and there were a lot of Canberrans there, Mr Lamont - expressed their opinion - - -
Ms Ellis: I did not go to see the number of people. I went to look at the animals. I would have been far more interested in a survey of the animals than the people.
MR DE DOMENICO: Ms Ellis, if you can give me a way of getting the animals to tell you what they think, let me know.
Ms Ellis: I think that is far more relevant to the debate.
MR DE DOMENICO: It is relevant to the debate. This Government prides itself on consultation, Madam Speaker. Mr Lamont, on the other side of this house, who prides himself on consultation, bluntly refused to talk to the circus people. He did not just disagree with them; he refused to let them in his door.
Ms Ellis: I offered to meet with them and they did not come near me.
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Lamont moved the amendment, Ms Ellis. He refused to talk to them; he refused to talk to them. Not only that; he is refusing to note that the people who turned up at Tuggeranong are saying, "We do not want you to ban circuses, because the circus people have a long history of looking after their animals, Mr Lamont, because - - -
Mr Lamont: They have not changed in 150 years.
MR DE DOMENICO: You would not know, because you have not even given them the courtesy of letting them in your door. Your mind is closed. Ideology runs you, not logic, and you know that. You are on a promise, as I said; and that is a very dangerous way of doing things, Mr Lamont, might I suggest. Madam Speaker, that is what this thing is all about.
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I take a point of order. It seems to me that a grave charge has been made by a member against another member in relation to what has been referred to as "on a promise" for the activities of a member in this Assembly.
Mr Kaine: Well, what is the pay-off? There must be one.
Mr Berry: Now we have the Leader of the Opposition imputing that there may be a pay-off. I would ask that the Leader of the Opposition withdraw the imputation that there is a pay-off and I would ask that Mr De Domenico withdraw the imputation that there is a likelihood of a pay-off.
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