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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 3604 ..

MR STEFANIAK: Well, we had processes too, Mr Wood, and I am sure they have followed them, but I would hate to see them miss out on funding. We had a motion earlier today, and rightly so, about supporting things like the Tuggeranong festival, another great event. I think these festivals certainly are deserving of great support.

On another point: might I also indicate that I was also very concerned to hear Ms Tucker liken John Howard, Tony Blair and George W. Bush to actual terrorists. Those three gentlemen are all leaders of democracies. I have never met Mr Bush or Mr Blair. Mr Blair is probably not as good as my old mate Margaret Thatcher. Nevertheless they are leaders of democracies. Of course I think our own Prime Minister, while some people would not agree with him, is a great Australian and a very decent man-just as I could say many members opposite whom I know personally are very decent people, even though there is a lot they do that I do not agree with.

In a democracy you do not have to agree with someone to respect them as a decent human being, and John Howard is certainly that. As someone who knows him quite well, I take offence at stupid comments like that and I hope she learns her lesson and does not make comments like that. It was otherwise, I think, a very useful and reasoned debate where everyone had an opinion and the motion was ultimately passed. That is part and parcel of a democracy. But I do not think comments like that serve any purpose and I certainly hope that she will not make comments like that again.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 9.29 pm.

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