Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (5 March) . . Page.. 529 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

this community, a person whose integrity cannot be gainsaid and a person whose integrity is beyond question-all of a sudden has his integrity questioned. Mr McLeod is somebody who the Liberal Party thinks can be bought off in some way-that he is prepared to cop a whitewash.

Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, the Chief Minister is resorting to his usual tactic of personal slurs. I did not say that Mr McLeod was anything less than-

MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.

Mr Cornwell: Mr Speaker, I take a point of order, sir. Mr Stanhope just stated that the Liberal Party-

MR STANHOPE: It is only your leader. I am sorry. I know he does not speak for you, Mr Cornwell. We know that.

Mr Cornwell: I was about to comment that we all know, in this house, that a reference to a party is also a reference to individuals.

MR SPEAKER: What is the point of order you are making?

Mr Cornwell: The point of order is that I object to the comment the Chief Minister made in relation to myself. I suggest each of my colleagues might like to rise up and seek an apology from him-unless he wishes to withdraw unconditionally.

MR SPEAKER: What was the comment?

Mr Cornwell: The comment was that the Liberal Party is attempting to subvert the inquiry by Mr McLeod. It is standing orders, Mr Speaker. I ask that Mr Stanhope withdraw.

MR SPEAKER: It was a bit of a struggle, I think.

MR STANHOPE: It was a bit of a struggle, but the point is well made-that it is the leader of the Liberal Party who has actually gotten into the gutter on this. It is the leader of the Liberal Party who is playing politics. Mr Cornwell is determined to make the point that he disowns this slide into grubby politics. He disowns this determination by the Leader of the Opposition to undermine the credibility and value of the McLeod inquiry, before it starts. Thank you for your integrity, Mr Cornwell. We admire the fact that you are prepared to disown the appalling behaviour of your leader.

Homelessness

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I wish to ask a question, through you, of the best housing minister this place has seen since the birth of self-government, Mr Wood. Minister, last year the government received a report on the needs analysis of homelessness in the ACT which had, as one of its recommendations, the establishment of a central point of contact to assess and respond to the immediate needs of people who are experiencing an accommodation crisis. Today, a report commissioned of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in the ACT by the Chief Minister's Department, entitled

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .