Page 78 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Yes, some families have worked valiantly to restore their lives and loves. They have now earned the right to expect improved safety and security in Canberra—and I would add to that ministerial accountability, particularly from the Chief Minister. There are families for whom personal tragedy was too much to bear, driving them to move away from Canberra to try to build new lives. Who gives a thought about them? How can we, and why should we, accept this whitewash of the current circumstances of these families—the same people the Chief Minister rubbed shoulders with every day?
Such callous disregard for our community is un-Australian and it reflects abjectly poor and failed leadership. Weasel words do nothing to compensate a community—particularly but not exclusively the residents of the suburbs of Weston Creek, who lost so much and who expect their leaders to show the courage to stand up and be counted. Does the Chief Minister seriously and selfishly expect them to accept and forget the living legacy of 18 and 19 January 2003?
Today—I think I have said this before in this place, and it saddens me greatly—we have reached another unacceptable low in ACT politics: one rule for one and one for another. The gagging and tawdry denial of proper scrutiny has made this community feel betrayed and valueless. Our citizens were there on the front line: they saw the chaos, felt the hot embers and they still carry the scars. The people of Canberra have every right to feel let down, angry and appalled at Jon Stanhope’s lack of leadership as Chief Minister during the dreadful disaster. His refusal to resign over the matter just serves to confirm all that they feel.
On 24 November 1999 Jon Stanhope said, “At the end of the day the minister is responsible.” What has happened in this place? What has happened to that? Just as he set the ministerial standard for Kate Carnell then, so should he live by that same standard right now, today. At the time the Chief Minister said he was to blame, and I believe he meant that. But now, in the cold light of day and four years after the event, he displays a total lack of empathy, a total lack of understanding of what is right and an inability to accept his responsibility. What leadership is that?
Despite his tawdry protestations, the facts are plain: he was the Chief Minister at the time and it happened on his watch. Denial, gagging, empty platitudes and hypocrisy are the profile of the vanquished, not the victors; the profile of leaders without connection to their community, not the profile of a Chief Minister and his administration—not a Chief Minister worthy to lead the Canberra community.
Today, Labor members, you have an opportunity to do the right thing by and for the community. How many of you have mentioned the responsibility we have to the community? How many of you have mentioned the responsibility as Chief Minister to the community? This is not about watching our own backs, securing our own jobs. You have a chance to elect another Chief Minister from within your ranks. You do not have to continue to carry the burden of the indefensible.
Mr Speaker, despite what the Chief Minister may think, he has not won in this place today. It requires a bigger man to stand up and be counted.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .