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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Thursday, 1 July 2004) . . Page.. 3169 ..

We are talking about David and Goliath. Mrs Burke has the same effect on the minister as would a mosquito biting the knee of an elephant. She has no effect at all. I wish she would get a change of portfolio. It is about time that Mr Smyth had a good look at what Mrs Burke is doing to the morale of people in the department of education, youth and family services. This is an appalling state of affairs.

Mr Pratt: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Order. What is the point of order? Come to it quickly.

Mr Pratt: I refer to standing order 62. My point of order relates to relevance. This matter is about the protection of children; it is not about Mrs Burke.

MR HARGREAVES: That is right, Mr Speaker. I take Mr Pratt’s point. It is not about Mrs Burke because she has nothing to do with child protection in this town. However, if she is successful she will destroy people who work in the child protection area. She came into this chamber and talked a lot of rot. She said that a large number of people had visited her in her office and she had received a large number of phone calls in relation to this matter. Mrs Burke should list those people.

Mrs Cross: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Hargreaves made an imputation against Mrs Burke. I ask him to withdraw that statement.

MR HARGREAVES: I have not yet made an imputation, but I am about to do so. However, it will not be an imputation; it will be a direct statement.

Mrs Cross: Mr Speaker, I ask you to control the member.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The time for discussion has expired. What was the imputation, Mrs Cross?

Mrs Cross: Mr Hargreaves said that if Mrs Burke were in that role she would destroy people who worked in the child protection area. That is an imputation against the member.

Mr Hargreaves: It is a fact.

Mrs Cross: No, it is not a fact; it is a subjective statement. It is an imputation, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Order! I think it is a point of discussion.

School Crossings

Alteration to resolution of the Assembly

Motion (by Mr Pratt, by leave) agreed to:

That the resolution of the Assembly of 11 February 2004 be amended by omitting, in paragraphs (2) and (3), “1 July” and substituting “17 August”.

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