Page 117 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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like more connectedness between communities and that that was something that they felt that the existing council had not been encouraging. They also wanted more activities and structures to bring their concerns into what we sometimes smugly call mainstream society.
I can only assume that the government’s rejection of the substantive part of my motion is a knee-jerk rejection of some constructive strategies for listening to and connecting our diverse communities. Is the government, with its amendments, saying it will not do that? Let us hope, for the future of the delicate balance of relationships that make up our society, that, while rejecting my motion, the government will in fact quietly go about doing proper community engagement anyway.
Amendments agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
Private members’ business
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (12.12): I seek leave to move a motion that private members’ business Nos 3 and 4 be postponed to a later hour this day.
Leave granted.
MRS BURKE: I move:
That notices Nos 3 and 4, private members’ business, relating to the bushfire threat to the urban edge and the contribution of Koomarri to the ACT, be postponed until a later hour this day.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (12.13): The government would be interested to understand why the opposition want to do this. Clearly, there is a range of important items on the notice paper today. They all are of interest to members. But, given that the administration and procedure committee has already determined the order, before we are in a position to support this request we would like to understand the reason why the opposition wish to do that. In particular, of course, we are concerned that the proposal is to defer an item of business that is being proposed by a government member. I would be interested to understand the reasons; otherwise the government may not be able to support the motion.
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (12.14), in reply: There is nothing sinister about what happened. I have to say that it would appear that either the government whip or the manager of government business is trying to have a bit of fun with this. But, quite simply, it was no more and no less than human error, and I do apologise for that. I apologise that I got the order wrong in the admin and procedure committee, as I have explained to your good self as chair of the committee and also to the government whip. It was one of those things—human error. Hands up in this place anybody who has not made a mistake. It must be very good to have never made a mistake. I do thank the manager of government business and other members for their understanding, and I look forward to a lively debate on the Belconnen to Civic busway.
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