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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Thursday, 13 May 2004) . . Page.. 1832 ..

“misled the Legislative Assembly on the question of advice—

that is one point I would make—

given to him and contact made with him—

that is another issue—

during the period 17-18 January 2003 regarding the 2003 bushfires, this Assembly expresses grave concern ...

We really need to look at this. Reluctantly, I will be supporting this. What else are we to do in this place? We made a stand and said that the Chief Minister should be and must be held accountable. He is the chief law-maker of the ACT and for him to abrogate responsibility should not and cannot be allowed. Mrs Cross spelt it out quite well. I think we should try telling this once more—in this amendment—with feeling to the people of Weston Creek, Kambah and the rural areas. Ms Tucker read out from what Richard Arthur of the Phoenix Association said about people grappling to get their lives together. I will read a bit more:

As they think “What if …?”, they will again wonder why they were not warned. Not to know the answer will make them feel hurt and frustrated. To think that there is someone who knows the answer, but will not disclose it, will deepen the hurt, and turn that frustration into anger.

Understanding why something dreadful has happened to them gives a person the best chance of accepting their fate and getting on with their lives.

It is not right that people who have already been hurt so much should have to deal with these additional, unnecessary, emotions for the rest of their lives.

The lack of explanation has caused, and will continue to cause, much unnecessary grief. It is a major obstacle in the path of the recovery process.

This must be very embarrassing for those opposite and perhaps for some of the crossbenchers, because all I see here in this amendment is a brave attempt to duck-shove one of the most major events that we have had face us in this Assembly. The real issue is: whom should we be holding accountable for misleading the Assembly then, if not Mr Stanhope? Who should we, Mr Stanhope? Perhaps you have got an idea. Again, I refer to my colleague Mrs Dunne being dragged, rightfully so—and she admitted that—over the coals about a flyer. We are talking here about deaths and destruction, misleading of the Assembly over advice given and people that you met.

I know that you do not like it and I know that you are getting embarrassed; I know that. Mr Speaker, they are getting very embarrassed, very touchy over there, but this has to be dealt with.

Mr Corbell: That is an outrageous statement. Say it outside the chamber.

MRS BURKE: And you can call it what you want, Mr Corbell. One cannot be half

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