Page 2617 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 25 September 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mrs Burke: But that is what he just said.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs Burke: He cannot debate the issue either.
MR STANHOPE: The policy was released through a press statement, and I heard the Acting Leader of the Opposition being interviewed. The Acting Leader of the Opposition has, in writing, released a policy on behalf of the Liberal Party providing that all public housing tenants in the ACT under a Liberal government will be subject to random searches of their premises—
Mr Hargreaves: Without warning.
MR STANHOPE: without warning and without any suspicion that they may be engaged in criminal behaviour or activity. (Time expired.)
Mrs Burke: Sit down. What would you do? You are doing nothing. Protect your tenants.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition and Mrs Burke, cease interjecting.
MR GENTLEMAN: I ask a supplementary question. Chief Minister, what are some examples of protections provided for Canberrans in relation to housing?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. We can be grateful that today we do have a range of protections that do prevent public housing tenants, indeed all tenants, against the sorts of legislative changes that the Liberal Party has promised. I must say that I do congratulate Mrs Burke. This is at least a policy. It is an abhorrent policy, but I think it is probably the first of the policies and it is interesting that it took an Acting Leader of the Opposition to actually announce a significant, formal written policy position. That policy position, as announced by Mrs Burke as Acting Leader of the Opposition—
Mr Smyth: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Chief Minister was asked about protections currently provided in the ACT. He was not asked about Liberal Party policy. Under standing order 118 (b), he cannot debate the matter.
MR SPEAKER: Order! I think he is drawing a contrast—
Mr Smyth: No. He cannot answer your question. How dumb is he?
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth!
MR STANHOPE: I will go to some of the protections. These protections, of course, will need to be repealed, and I think the point of the contrast is that currently, under standard tenancy terms across the board, whether it be for public or private housing,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .