Page 603 - Week 03 - Thursday, 15 March 2007
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MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (11.33): It took the Chief Minister until the last 27 seconds of his speech to say anything of relevance in this debate.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth! The point of order about relevance has been raised, and I have ruled on it.
MR SMYTH: I am using context here, Mr Speaker, to quote you. The Chief Minister said, “The opposition has not asked questions about the two biggest of areas of responsibility in the ACT since the start of this year.” Well, here we are in the second week; we will get to them. But it is interesting. The minister was removed from the two biggest areas of responsibility in the ACT because he could not cut it as a minister. He was removed from education, and we all know the debacle that he left for Ms Gallagher, who had to clean up the child advocate issue.
Mr Stanhope: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SMYTH: What standing order?
Mrs Burke: Yes, what standing order, Jon?
MR SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Mr Smyth. What is the point of order?
Mr Stanhope: It is the standard of behaviour that we expect from that particular member these days.
MR SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
Mr Stanhope: The point of order, Mr Speaker, is this: whilst I understand that this is a substantive motion and the debate might be broad ranging, the suggestion just made—or the allegation or claim—is simply untrue.
MR SMYTH: That is not a point of order.
Mr Stanhope: It is not true. We know of the propensity for not telling the truth but it is simply not true.
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat. That is not a point of order.
MR SMYTH: The Chief Minister raised the two biggest areas of responsibility. I am surely entitled to respond. And then what happened in health? This is the minister who was removed from health after the health waiting list got to 5,099—the largest one. The elective surgery waiting list went to 5,099. What happened? He was removed from health as well. This minister has got form.
Mr Stanhope: Mr Speaker—
MR SMYTH: He has failed in planning—
Mr Stanhope: —that is not true.
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