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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1421 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

This really is incredibly puerile. It is incredibly puerile that, after six months in the job, all the opposition can think to ask me about is my diary commitments. It is absolutely amazing. It is interesting: a healthy democracy, a functioning democracy, a good strong parliamentary institution does require an effective opposition. However, I have to say that I think you are letting this institution down. You are letting down the fundamental strength of our democracy by your weakness, by your effeteness, by your ineptitude, by your simple lack of commitment to the job.

We are depending on you. We depend on you to ask some tough, rigorous questions about major issues of policy and government direction. We rely on you to do it. We rely on you, at some level, to take some interest in the business of government. It would be good if you could get yourselves organised and ask some serious questions on serious issues that are of concern to the people of Canberra, issues such as those related to education and to the status of indigenous people in this community.

I have just been handed some results. The Pamela Ayson that Mrs Dunne asked about received 193 votes.

MR PRATT: Gee, thanks, for the lesson on Bridget Jones' diary. Chief Minister, is your refusal to give a commitment to speak at the council an indication that the government is not concerned about meeting peak community bodies?

MR STANHOPE: That is nonsense. I did not refuse to give such a commitment. In fact, there are a range of ways in which one could look at this matter. The meeting will be held tomorrow at 5 o'clock with the Tuggeranong Community Council-

Mrs Cross: I thought it was today?

MR STANHOPE: Yes, I corrected that and said tomorrow, but you were not listening. You were gabbling. There is a meeting tomorrow afternoon between the Tuggeranong Community Council, Mr John Hargreaves, members of my personal staff, members of my department and other parliamentary colleagues.

Mr Humphries: But not you.

MR STANHOPE: Oh, so I have to attend every single meeting? How puerile is this? Mr Humphries, why have you not been at every function I have attended in the last three or four weeks? Why weren't you at that clubs association meeting?

Mr Humphries: Because I was not invited.

MR STANHOPE: No, Mr Smyth was actually there representing you. Why was Mr Smyth representing you? Indeed, why have you not been there at every function I have attended in the last three weeks? Why have you been represented by Mr Smyth? Why aren't you at every function, Mr Humphries? Where are you, off dollying away, having a little holiday? We know your penchant for the old feet up, Mr Humphries, the old lie down, the feet up on the couch in front of you. We know you do not actually like to get the hands dirty.

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