Page 3740 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 18 October 2005

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grandstanding, it is just getting attention and it is a salve to his wounded pride. He realised that he had to agree on the day with COAG, and I think this is a salve to his wounded pride, because he did not have the courage on that day to stand up for what he clearly believes. That the Chief Minister believes in it is not in question. That there needs to be a debate over this is not in question either. It is about when and where and how that should occur and that it should occur appropriately.

In terms of the Chief Minister jeopardising the faith and goodwill of the other state and territory leaders as well as the Commonwealth and embarrassing the ACT, I think that is clear from the ridicule in the various media outlets over the last couple of days, and the particular comments of his own Labor colleagues who have said they would not have done it this way. What he has done through this action is to expose the ACT to the ridicule of the other jurisdictions. This place often suffers from the fact that it is the small house in the shadow of the big house, as it is called, and it often suffers from being seen as potentially irrelevant. The case for this place is not helped by the Chief Minister acting in such a way, and that is why he deserves to be censured.

Question put:

That Mr Smyth’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee

Membership

MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (12.29): I move:

That Mrs Dunne be discharged from the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure and that Mr Seselja be appointed in Mrs Dunne’s place.

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Arts, Heritage and Indigenous Affairs) (12.29): This is a motion that does require some debate. We are very, very aware of Mrs Dunne’s concern at being ambushed by her leader. In the interests of open and transparent government, I am not sure that it is appropriate for us to sign off on a motion such as this in an environment where Mrs Dunne has expressed absolutely no confidence in her leader. She has advised us of his propensity to ambush her.

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