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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2492 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

The view that I have taken is a little bit between the two - that it is appropriate for us to seek to get a majority decision on this, Mr Speaker, and preferably a unanimous decision. That is what I am hoping for in putting up this amendment. So, Mr Speaker, I move:

Omit all words after "condemns", substitute "the decision of the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard, to refuse to make the Prime Minister's Lodge in Canberra his primary residence - a decision which demonstrates his contempt for the ACT and its people - and calls on all Members of this Assembly to join petitioners in Canberra in calling on Mr Howard to make Canberra his primary residence.".

MRS LITTLEWOOD (11.16): Mr Speaker, I rise to support Mr Moore and the amendment. I would like to make a couple of points. Mr Berry said that this matter had never been raised in this place before. I draw his attention to an MPI which I proposed on 9 April, namely, Federal Parliament's attitude to the ACT. I said:

The Prime Minister has decided that he will not live in the Lodge - - -

Mr Berry: That is not a motion.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: You just mentioned, Mr Berry, that it had not been raised in this place before. It has been raised in this place before, because I raised it in an MPI debate in this house on 9 April. I have had a petition going around for quite some time. So, it certainly has been raised before. The timing of the Labor Party on this really has to be questioned.

Mr Berry: Why did you not move a motion, if you are so good?

MRS LITTLEWOOD: Give me time, Mr Berry. I just thought that I would give you the opportunity so that we could beat you.

It has been mentioned that Mr McMahon and Mr Howard have never lived at the Lodge. To set the record straight, I think you will find that Mr Curtin and Mr Chifley also did not live at the Lodge. One of those members lived at the Kurrajong - - -

Mr Moore: But Mr Chifley lived in Canberra.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: He lived in Canberra, but he did not live in the Lodge. Let us get the facts straight.

Mr Moore: At least he lived in Canberra.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: That is true. Let us get it technically correct. As a Liberal, it is naturally very concerning to me to be talking about the Prime Minister, who is also a Liberal; but there are times when you have to stand up and be counted. The people of Canberra are concerned about this. They have quite strong feelings about it. I think Mr Moore's tack is probably the way to go. I support Mr Moore's amendment, Mr Speaker.

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