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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 1930 ..

MS TUCKER: Mr Moore's interjections do not worry me. I just do not hear them. Mr Rugendyke can say that he has a different philosophy and that he leans more to the right than to the left. Mr Rugendyke can say that he is more likely to support Liberal than Labor. What Mr Rugendyke did not say was that he is in a position of incredible power in this place. He either does not seem to be aware of it or is not willing to use it at all. It is, I believe, his responsibility.

MR SPEAKER: Would you mind telling me what this has to do with Part 15, Education and Community Services?

MS TUCKER: You did not ask Mr Rugendyke that, Mr Speaker. He spoke for 10 or 15 minutes on this subject. If I am not allowed to speak on it, I seek leave to speak on it.

MR SPEAKER: I was not present when Mr Rugendyke spoke. I cannot be a judge of what else is going on, but I am here now and I am saying that this is not germane to Part 15, Education and Community Services.

Mr Corbell: Mr Speaker, it would be most unfair if you did not allow Ms Tucker to speak on this issue, as Mr Rugendyke did not address any issue on Education or Community Services in his speech. A great part of his speech was on overall budget philosophy. He was not ruled out of order or called to order at any time. I think it would be unfair for you to rule Ms Tucker out of order on that.

Mr Rugendyke: Mr Speaker, on that point of order taken by Mr Corbell: I would just like to say that I think it would be the pot calling the kettle black if he expected me to speak specifically to Part 15 when the speeches from the Labor Party have been all over the shop for three days.

MR SPEAKER: I made it quite clear two days ago that I was going to insist on people addressing the part that we were debating at the time. However, I was not in the chair when Mr Rugendyke spoke. I take the advice of other members of the Assembly. You may continue in the same vein, Ms Tucker, with my indulgence.

MS TUCKER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was very interested in Mr Moore sitting there saying so condescendingly, "Hear, hear!" as Mr Rugendyke spoke. As a crossbencher, Mr Moore never behaved as Mr Rugendyke and Mr Osborne have been behaving. He was always clear on what he saw as a priority and he was always consulted on those matters by government, as far as I can determine. What we are seeing here now are two people who basically say they care about the issues, but this Government is acting like a majority government in Victorian style, and I am not surprised, because holding the balance of power are two people who will say yes to whatever they do. The Government does not even consult with these people, yet we do not get an objection. Mr Moore would have objected strenuously if there had been significant cuts to areas without him having any knowledge of them beforehand. It is how you use your position on the crossbench in this place that matters. Mr Moore says it is about the budget. It is not about just the budget.

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