Page 2831 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 August 2008
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Ms Gallagher: Again, another lie.
MRS DUNNE: This is why we need to suspend the standing orders; we need to have the discussion—
Mr Smyth: Point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. The Deputy Chief Minister just accused Mrs Dunne of lying and she should withdraw.
Mr Gentleman: What number standing order?
Mr Smyth: Disorderly conduct, Mick; I will leave it to you to look it up.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I did not hear that.
Mrs Burke: It is true. You don’t call people liars.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I am ruling on the point of order. Ms Gallagher, I did not hear you. If you think you did, then you might withdraw it. I call for order so I can hear what is being muttered across the chamber.
Ms Gallagher: I withdraw it, but it is not true what she is saying.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. I call Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: I think that is a withdrawal, Mr Deputy Speaker. What we are about today is a discussion in relation to the functional review, which has been held close to Jon Stanhope’s chest for a very long time. When you listen to the exposition of what happened through the correspondence to the public accounts committee, it is clear that the Chief Minister is unwilling to provide this piece of information.
It is time that we actually had the discussion here about what the Chief Minister has to hide. Over years and years, the people of the ACT have groaned under the changes wrought by this functional review and the government will not reveal it. We saw today, in relation to the exposition given by Dr Foskey, the Chief Minister saying that he would not provide this document because it was subject to a conclusive certificate from a freedom of information request.
That freedom of information request was made by me under the Freedom of Information Act. While the Chief Minister may have condoned the issuing of a conclusive certificate over that, it does not at any time prevent him from releasing that document. At any time the Chief Minister chooses, he can release the functional review; he can have his officials revoke the conclusive certificate. The operation of a conclusive certificate is entirely and utterly immaterial to the standing orders of this place. The standing orders of this place have required the Chief Minister to come forward and provide documents—
Ms Gallagher: Mr Deputy Speaker, can I raise a point?
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher, do you have a point of order?
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