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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 3257 ..

MR SPEAKER: Mr Stefaniak, would you just sit down for a minute. You are right. The vote has been taken but I did not detect Mr Corbell reflecting on the vote. He has been asked a question by a member and he is entitled to answer it.

Mr Stefaniak: There is a point of order, though, Mr Speaker. I just draw your attention to standing order 117 (e) (i) which refers to debates that have taken place during a calendar year. We had the debate this morning and, yes, it has concluded. But we have had the debate.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, on the point of order: the question related specifically to an announcement the government has made today for a specific development in Garran, and it is in that context that I am answering the question. I am certainly not reflecting on the debate because, if anything, in case the Liberals had not noticed, we amended their motion quite significantly, with the support of the majority of the Assembly. So I am not exactly going to reflect on something which the government proposed and was successful in achieving Assembly support for. Further, Mr Speaker, the matter has now been resolved and is no longer on the notice paper.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Stefaniak, if you want the government to be quiet about any of its activities merely as a consequence of it being debated in this place, I think that is a bit of a tall order.

Mr Stefaniak: No, I am not saying that at all, Mr Speaker. It does seem out of order in accordance with 117 (e) (i) because we have had that debate this morning. The minister probably could have given all of that information then.

MR SPEAKER: Well, Mr Corbell, don't refer to the debate this morning.

MR CORBELL: I never did, Mr Speaker, but I am quite happy to abide by the rules.

Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, on the point of order: Mr Corbell actually said that there was a specific question about a specific government announcement. Ms MacDonald's question was not about a specific announcement. It was "what are you doing in the planning area?"It was not about the Southern Cross Homes in Garran.

MR SPEAKER: I think "what are you doing?"invites a response from the minister about what he is doing and I do not see a point of order there.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, the sad thing about all these interruptions is that whilst they complain, we are acting. While they are complaining, we are acting on the issue. We are getting on with giving the approvals for land to make sure that these aged-care facilities can be provided. And all we hear from the Liberal Party is whinging and moaning and complaining, and they never provide anything positive at all.

Where is their policy, Mr Speaker? Where is the Liberal Party's policy on aged-care provision in the ACT? What steps are they proposing to take? They have been in opposition for nearly two years and have we had a single policy on aged-care provision? No, Mr Speaker-none whatsoever.

Mr Cornwell: We don't want them stolen.

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