Page 594 - Week 03 - Thursday, 15 March 2007
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Last week we had Mr Pratt saying, “You know, we’ve got to give it a bit of time to work.” But Mr Pratt gave it no time to work. He just jumped in and has trashed the idea from day one, because it is easier to do that politically.
The actions of the volunteers this morning are of deep regret to me. But my responsibilities as minister are to make sure that we have an organisation that works effectively, responsibly, in a coordinated way and with regard to making sure taxpayers’ money is spent as effectively as possible. Those are my responsibilities. The decisions volunteers have taken today are of deep regret to me. I am hopeful that once they have had the opportunity to sit down and talk about these issues a bit more they will see the benefits that exist.
My door has always been open to volunteers. I have never refused a meeting. I have always sat down and talked to them. I have met with the VBA on numerous occasions. I have met with the fire controllers group on numerous occasions. I have met with the chief officers regularly. I have met with the commissioner regularly. I will go and talk anywhere, any time to anyone about these matters. That has always been my approach.
It was interesting that this morning the shadow minister did not stand up in front of everyone and put the opposition’s position. He was knocked down in the rush by Mr Smyth. Mr Smyth said: “Get out of the way, Steve. Get out of the way; I want to do it.” Where was the shadow minister this morning?
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR CORBELL: Yes, he was in the crowd, but did he stand up in front of everyone and say, “This is our position”? No, Mr Speaker. It was left to Mr Smyth to do that.
The government believes that the restructure will achieve better outcomes for the Canberra community, a better focus on the sharp end, less money in back office administration, more money for training, more money for risk assessment and management, more money for those things that actually count in terms of protecting our community. And I will continue to talk with volunteers and talk with everyone with an interest in this subject to make sure we achieve that outcome on behalf of the Canberra community.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (11.02): Mr Speaker, when I walked in here this morning I found out there was a no-confidence motion in the minister, and when I mentioned to Mrs Burke that it would have been really handy to have been told about that she said I must have had rocks in my head if I did not know that was happening. I just said to her, “Well, you know, I’m not actually in your party, Mrs Burke.” Thank you, Mr Smyth, for coming up to me and apologising. As the whip I suppose he did have that job of letting me know that the decision was made late last night. However, I think several hours have already elapsed this morning. I do not have rocks in my head, but I do have ears on my head—and my ears are open.
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