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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1742 ..

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Hird, for the question. Mr Speaker, on 23 May this year I received two letters from the Mayor of Queanbeyan, Alderman Frank Pangallo, in relation to comments made by Ms McRae during the May sittings of the Assembly. You would all recall the speech by Ms McRae, I am sure, because it was a beauty. The first of Alderman Pangallo's letters was addressed to me as Chief Minister. In it, after "Dear Chief Minister", he said the following:

Enclosed is a copy of my letter to Ms Roberta McRae about her untimely and unsolicited comments which appeared in the recent article in the Canberra Times.

It would be most appreciated if you would press this particular individual and her Party for a public apology on the floor of the Assembly. Comments such as these coming from ACT Legislative Assembly members do nothing for the relationship between Queanbeyan and Canberra.

I know that you are most supportive of regional matters and it would be appropriate that this sort of behaviour be stopped forthwith so that the excellent relationship you have developed with the region is not spoilt.

I look forward to a positive response from you.

Mr Speaker, I think it is important to requote one sentence of this particular letter. It says:

It would be most appreciated if you would press this particular individual and her Party for a public apology on the floor of the Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the second letter was addressed to Ms McRae and copied to me, Mr Whitecross and the Canberra Times. As it is only short, I will quote it in full. It is a letter to Ms McRae and it says this:

Your comments were ill considered, trivial, distasteful, unintelligent and reflected poorly on you as an individual and as a member of your Party.

These are not my words. They are Frank Pangallo's words. He goes on to say:

Irrespective of any subsequent claim that you were reported out of context, what you said has been recorded and unfortunately printed. It is a poor reflection on the reporter also that the article was printed in the first place.

You seem to have a very poor understanding of society. The aspersions you cast on a wide range of people are insulting and a complete abuse of your position as an ACT Assembly member.

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