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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 626 ..
MR OSBORNE (continuing):
I spent a few minutes looking in Hansard to see how many times Mr De Domenico had been pulled up for using unparliamentary language. I admit to being slightly disappointed in this regard, as the majority of incidents seem to have involved Mr Humphries. There were a number of times when Mr De Domenico was pulled up, though, the best one being when he accused another member of not being able to lie straight in bed. How apt! Of course, it would not be appropriate for me to name the member he was referring to at the time, although it could be said that he is no longer an Assembly member, having experienced voter-initiated retirement. I have also learnt that he enjoys life now driving around in a BMW, I think it is; it might be a Mercedes.
On a more serious note, Mr De Domenico was not the sort of politician to let activity totally take the place of achievement. Although I have not always agreed with him, I believe that Mr De Domenico was a good local member. He would meet anybody anywhere and tackle tough issues head on. I appreciate that Mr De Domenico's style got him into political hot water at times, and he certainly attracted an amount of controversy well out of proportion to the length of his political career. This Assembly will miss the extra bit of colour that Tony used to add. I have to say that, on the occasions when I approached Mr De Domenico on issues and he said that he would do something, he always did. I will certainly miss him because he was such an easy target.
MR MOORE (6.57): Mr Speaker, I rise to speak on two issues. First, I am pleased that Mr Osborne has finished because I want to respond to something he said yesterday in the debate on euthanasia. He commented that I attacked people for their religious beliefs. Mr Speaker, that is something I believe I never do. I do act very harshly on people who try to inflict those religious beliefs on others. That is a very important distinction. I have a great deal of respect for people who wish to practise their own religious beliefs.
I also want to say a few words about Mr De Domenico because it seems that there is no other way to shame the Liberal Party into saying just a few words on behalf of the Dipper. I am sure that the Dipper himself would be amused in this exercise that, of all people who should be the second to stand up to say a few nice words about him, it should be me. There have been some quite significant political tussles that Mr De Domenico and I have been through. It is a great credit to Tony - I think we can now refer to him by his first name because he is no longer a member - that when we had had a good old barney on the floor of the house you could walk out through the door and, sure enough, Tony would be the first one to say, "Hey, do you want a beer?". He was a bit of entertainment in the Assembly. He certainly did add colour. As I have said publicly, I think we are better off without him. I think the best contribution he made to the people of Canberra was when he left the Assembly, but at least I am prepared to say it, rather than just completely ignore him.
If I were Mr Kaine, Mr Stefaniak, Mr Humphries, Mr Hird or the newly appointed Mrs Littlewood, I would be very worried about trying to use our Hare-Clark countback system and leaving. Sure as eggs, they would just disappear into oblivion and nobody would say a nice word about them. Mr Speaker, it could be even worse. You could be one of the ones who left, with not a word said by your colleagues from the Liberal Party.
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