Page 4456 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 22 November 2005
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Mr Speaker, I would like to raise a couple of other matters as well. I would like to take the opportunity to support comments made by Dr Foskey. We are not often aligned philosophically, but I agree with her remarks about the poor performance of the government in terms of extending the courtesy of providing invitations to certain events. In particular, I refer to the opening of the Woden police station. As the only member of the Assembly resident in Woden, I thought it was disappointing that the decision was taken to exclude non-government members from that event, certainly not to invite them.
Whether that was due to oversight or by design, I think it was in any event a discourtesy and most inappropriate that that error should have occurred. It was not an isolated occasion. I share Dr Foskey’s view that this happens more often than not. I am one who is always willing, believe it or not, to give the benefit of doubt for these oversights, but I think that that one was a very poor situation and I would like to put that on record and support Dr Foskey in that perspective.
Finally, I must say how pleased we were to see Mr Stanhope back in the Assembly today. We missed him last week while he was off playing international statesman. Quite seriously, I do want to put on the record that I believe Mr Stanhope’s role is not to be a leading figure in international politics. I do not think it is his job to fly off to Adelaide to go in to bat for David Hicks, as his press release indicated, nor to be constantly running a lone battle against the Prime Minister and his Labor colleagues over the handling of anti-terrorism measures.
I think that it is critical for the Chief Minister to focus on the task of serving the people of the ACT and to get a better handle on the management of the ACT’s economy. Clearly, Mr Quinlan has major difficulties on his plate and, for however much longer he will be in the role of Treasurer, it is clear that he needs a measure of support from his leader.
It was very evident last Thursday that Mr Stanhope’s absence interstate on other matters came through in the government’s performance. I would strongly suggest that the people of Canberra do not have expectations of him being the international statesman. He can run for a federal seat, if that is his wish. I think that his job here is to be at home and focus on the more fundamental ACT domestic issues.
Mrs Dunne—quotation from document
Industrial relations—Qantas
MR GENTLEMAN (6.10): Firstly, I would like to talk about a matter that came up earlier today, that is, the discussions of Mrs Dunne on some document from my office, apparently. I think it is quite outrageous that a member of the Assembly would get up and talk about such a document. If she does have this document from my office, I would certainly urge her to return it. I would be very concerned about possible interference with mail in this place. I will review Hansard to see what was actually said on that, but I think it is quite outrageous that that should occur. I guess we will have to have InTACT take a look at the email system to see what has happened there.
On a more pleasant note, Mr Speaker, some time ago I informed this Assembly about the case of Ross Hocking, a long-time loyal employee of Qantas who had his employment
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