Page 788 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 1 May 2007
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with me and you may not like the way I do it, but that is why I stand here and that is why I am a member here. I also want to say that to see now the rubbishing of the busway project consultancy—
Mr Hargreaves: Who said that? Another misrepresentation.
DR FOSKEY: I just heard it from Mr Seselja, Mr Hargreaves. What we are really talking about here is part of the sustainable transport plan. It is very important that ministers of new portfolios take on all the work. I know that it is a significant amount of work and ministers are already overburdened, but, if you agree to take on a portfolio, it seems to me that the work of finding out what has been done and why it has been done is part of that job.
It is a little concerning to see what the opposition and the government are doing today. We will see something different tomorrow, I know, because it is the nature of this place that one day people are screaming at each other with hatred and the next day they are smooching up to each other. But we really need to keep in mind that we are actually here to provide good governance for the ACT and to provide scrutiny if we are in opposition or on the cross bench. We are certainly not here to abuse people, because I do not think that that is respected by the citizens of the ACT.
Ms Gina Pinkas
May Day
Industrial relations
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (6.06): Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the time and care given over the last five years by a prominent member of our team. Last Friday, Gina Pinkas, from Mr Corbell’s office, left us to go on to be, as she says, a community agitator. I thank Gina for all the hard work and help and I wish her the best of luck. It is to her I dedicate this adjournment speech today.
Mr Speaker, as I am confident you have noticed, today I wear a red rose over my breast. This rose is being worn to commemorate an historic day that is close to my heart. This day is May Day. May Day—also known as International Workers Day; those opposite would now about that, I suppose—celebrates all the international achievements of the union movement, from fair wages to acceptable OH&S measures, from leave entitlements to the eight-hour day. Also, May Day marks the day that in Chicago in 1886 workers were demonstrating for an eight-hour day. Previously, as you would be aware, there were no limits to the hours of work required by employees.
I have promised my constituents and fellow Canberrans that I will work tirelessly for their rights in the workplace and I have promised my constituents and fellow Canberrans that I will, at every opportunity, make Mr Howard aware of the anguish, the negative financial impact and the pain that he has inflicted on Australian workers and their families in introducing the WorkChoices legislation. I want the Assembly and Mr Howard to hear the voices of my constituents, my fellow Canberrans and all other Australians.
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