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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (5 June) . . Page.. 1946 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

greatest level of indignation as he speaks. After today, I think I might consider adding to that an award for offensiveness for his comments about the Chief Minister.

"Dingoing out" is not a term I have heard before, and it is one I would wish to draw your attention to for your consideration, Mr Speaker. It is certainly offensive. Any red-blooded Australian is highly offended at any such thing, and, Mr Cornwell, I don't think you have any right to say such things.

Mr Cornwell: Well, he does when he leaves the room, sir.

MR WOOD: Not at all, Mr Speaker. I think leaving the room when Mr Cornwell speaks might be a good idea. It shows basic good sense, I would say, and for Mr Cornwell to act so indignant and to be so offensive is a disgrace to this Assembly. I speak as the chair of that committee that looked at elder abuse. Mr Stanhope has spoken to me about the way he has been proceeding and I am very pleased with the way that matter is being dealt with. I think it is highly appropriate that, if he is appointing a new council, he should have some comment on a very important issue.

We saw yesterday how the Liberals did not want to talk to the community when we were considering a bill about access to government records. The government yesterday proposed to move to remove from our legislation reference to an advisory council. Again today, we see this action by the failed former government to remove consultation from its vocabulary. The process that Mr Stanhope is undertaking is a very sensible one. It is one of talking to the community.

That was the community-Mr Cornwell wouldn't know this because he probably doesn't talk to them-that came to the committee in the first place and said, "We have concerns about the treatment of older people in our community." They are the ones that came here. Now, isn't it a fair thing, then, to keep them in the loop? We heard them at the committee, we responded as best we could and I think it is a very good idea to keep them in the loop.

Mr Cornwell: But not the Assembly.

MR WOOD: Indeed, Mr Cornwell, the Assembly. The Assembly will get this in due course, as it should. But keep this group in the loop. The government will make its decisions and its recommendations based on the further comments from this most concerned group, and that seems very sensible to me. I have to say, Mr Cornwell, I think they would give us better advice than you would. So it is quite sensible-and they would give it to us politely also, I might say. Be polite.

I understand your body language here, Mr Stefaniak, but there were comments made that have to have a response, so bear that in mind. That said, that group will be kept in the loop. What Mr Stanhope brings back to this Assembly will be so much better for that.

MS TUCKER (3.49): I am just trying to find out what dingoing out meant, actually. Maybe Mr Cornwell can elaborate. I would give him leave to explain. I just haven't heard that expression before.

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