Page 3461 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 14 November 2006
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
something over a number of years about the Tharwa Bridge, which now faces another two-year wait to get something put in place. The government has failed to do something about the amenity at Red Hill shops and a lot of other shopping centres. It has failed to do something about infrastructure and footpaths around our suburbs. It has failed to guarantee here today that TAMS—
Mr Hargreaves: I raise a point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, as to relevance.
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is a matter of public importance, minister.
MR PRATT: I know the minister has to waste time and gag the opposition here today because we are putting points on the table that he cannot defend. He is so embarrassed by this ridiculous and stupid decision to shut the Griffith library that all he can do here today is to try and gag the debate. That is okay, minister. We understand your motive.
Mr Hargreaves was his usual flippant self when asked during annual report hearings why there was no consultation with the community. He replied to this effect: why would I bother when I know what the answer would be? Why would I bother to consult with the community when I know that the community is going to say, “No, we do not want our library closed. We do not see the justification in closing our library.” This was the response by the minister.
Minister, consultation occurs before you get to the point of making a decision. You do not consult with the community when you have decided that you are going to shut something. But that is the pattern that has been set by this minister’s government in terms of the school closures program.
The very short period between informing the community about the proposed closure and the closure date is inexplicable and just confirms that this government does not want to consult with the community on anything. They will just steamroll their way through. Add the insult of the Griffith library closure to the injury of the proposed school closures program to understand how this government governs.
This is not good governance. This is not community consultation. These are terrible decisions that strike at the heart of our community. As we have seen with the decision to close schools, it is scratching away at the fabric of ACT society and it will kill off decentralised services. It is decentralised services in our community that retain the lifeblood of our community. Today we are seeing an attack on the heart and soul of our community.
I just want to quickly read some comments by my colleague Mrs Dunne, the member for Molonglo, who is also deeply concerned—
DR FOSKEY: No, Ginninderra.
MR PRATT: I am sorry. What did I say?
Mr Smyth: You said Dunne. It is Mrs Burke.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .