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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 823 ..

MR STANHOPE: It is a matter of major concern to me that Mr Rugendyke thinks that, in meeting his obligations, it is for others to come to him to tell him what their position is. He believes he does not need to develop a position of his own; that he does not have to do his own research. We know that ACTEW, the ACT Government and AGL have beaten a path to Mr Rugendyke's door. Mr Rugendyke, in his flawed and arrogant attitude which he adopts to his role in this place, the maker and breaker, believes everybody else should come to him. It is for me to go to Mr Rugendyke; it is not for Mr Rugendyke to sit in his office and contemplate what his responsibilities to his electors are. That is not a matter for him; it is a matter for everybody else.

Mr Rugendyke: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I raise a point of order. I refer to standing order 55. There seem to be quite a few imputations that are not warranted. I ask you to rule on standing order 55.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.

MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. I have probably said as much as I need to say about that, other than to express my disappointment that Mr Rugendyke sees his role and his responsibilities in this place to wait around like some wilting bridesmaid or some pathetic wallflower actually waiting to be approached - - -

Mr Osborne: I raise a point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. I do not particularly want to get involved in this lovers' tiff between Mr Stanhope and Mr Rugendyke, but I do think it is unfair of Mr Stanhope to be attacking Mr Rugendyke and making the points that he is making when - - -

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: What is your point of order, Mr Osborne?

Mr Osborne: The point of order is that the imputation of Mr Rugendyke is an unfair one. Mr Stanhope put out a press release and bagged both me and Mr Rugendyke, and did not even bother to speak to us about it or ask our view. I did not even know Mr Stanhope was interested in the merger before I saw the press release.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.

Mr Osborne: Jon, at the end of the day, you started it. You did not even bother to come and speak to us.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Osborne!

Mr Osborne: He talks about ACTEW going down the drain. How the hell would he know? He hasn't bothered to speak to us.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Osborne, resume your seat or I will warn you. The house will come to order.

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