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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1743 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Queanbeyan by the way is situated only ten kilometres from Parliament House. It has a history dating back to 1838 and celebrated its sesqui-centenary (i.e. 150 years) at the same time that Canberra celebrated its 75th anniversary. People have lived in Queanbeyan for generations and choose to live here because of the life style it offers. Everyone in Queanbeyan has no doubt been insulted by your remarks. The word poor appears eighteen times in the article and no amount of back tracking will erase the insult you have offered the people of Queanbeyan.

In the event that you care to cross the border I would be pleased to give you a personal tour of the City and to show you the development and growth that is occurring in Queanbeyan.

Over the past few years Queanbeyan City Council has developed an excellent working relationship with the ACT Government and bureaucracy. Untimely and unsolicited [comment] such as yours does nothing for this relationship.

On behalf of the people of Queanbeyan I would expect nothing short of a public apology through the Press and on the floor of the Assembly.

Ms McRae: Do you feel better now that you have read it out?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, the Mayor of Queanbeyan has asked me to take these actions and to bring these matters to the attention of the Assembly, so I am doing so today. Those opposite seem to think it is a bit of a joke, but I have to say - - -

Ms McRae: You are a joke.

MRS CARNELL: Ms McRae says that I am a joke for bringing forward the request of the Mayor of Queanbeyan, Mr Speaker. What does that say for regional development, Mr Speaker? What does that say for operating as a region, not just as a city? Queanbeyan, as the mayor says, is 10 kilometres away from Parliament House, and our relationship with Queanbeyan and, for that matter, our region is the future of this city, our national capital, and it is about - - -

Ms McRae: You are a joke - joke, joke, joke.

MRS CARNELL: Ms McRae makes the comment again that it is a joke. It is not a joke and Frank Pangallo does not think it is a joke, Mr Speaker. He has taken it very seriously.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of all members, I will table both of those letters. I think it is very important because Mayor Pangallo has made it very clear that he expects Ms McRae and those opposite to put an apology on record. I guess, though, Mr Speaker, the ball is now back in Ms McRae's and Mr Whitecross's court, particularly Mr Whitecross's, because this is an opportunity for Mr Whitecross to actually show some leadership, to actually

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