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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2634 ..
Motion (by Mrs Burke ) put:
That the debate be adjourned.
The Assembly voted-
Ayes 8 Noes 9 Mrs Burke Mr Pratt Mr Berry Mr Quinlan Mr Cornwell Mr Smyth Mr Corbell Mr Stanhope Mrs Cross Mr Stefaniak Ms Gallagher Ms Tucker Ms Dundas Mr Hargreaves Mr Wood Mrs Dunne Ms MacDonald
Question so resolved in the negative.
MRS DUNNE
(8.41): Mr Speaker, I started out this morning at about 11 o'clock, as I attempted to do yesterday, to obtain what appeared to be a simple and straightforward piece of information. What we have seen here today is a minister on the ropes who is terrified of something and we do not know what it is. But what we have done in the process of trying to come to a conclusion which could have been achieved in a straightforward and courteous manner-he loves to talk about courtesy, but does not show it-has gone a long way to undermining the power of the Assembly vis-a-vis the executive.We attempted to adjourn this debate so that on another day cooler heads might prevail, because I truly believe that, although I would be interested in seeing the document as it would help to put to rest the controversy over the particular issue, the principle at stake is much more important than a document or what Mr Hargreaves might call a political point. The principle of what we have just done goes-
MR SPEAKER
: Order, Mrs Dunne! You are reflecting on a vote of the Assembly and that is disorderly.MRS DUNNE
: Sorry, I withdraw that. I just realised what I was about to say. I do apologise.It is because we are concerned with the principle of what this might mean to the Assembly, not just today but on other occasions, the Liberal opposition will vote against the motion, although we introduced it. It has been substantially amended and does not bear much resemblance to the simple motion that started in the first place. That is because the document is less important than the principle. The capacity of the Assembly to obtain information from the executive is important, but it should not be in any way constrained. It is a sad day that a government is so afraid of a small document which appears to be an email because the minister held it up and waved it round that we would go to such lengths and we would in, I daresay, a fairly hasty way make a move down a particular path that we might regret.
MR SPEAKER
: Mrs Dunne, I have warned you about reflecting on votes of the Assembly.
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