Page 3581 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Simply throwing up your hands is not good enough. Perhaps it is a trend among Labor politicians where you say, “There’s nothing more I can do on petrol prices; there’s nothing more I can do on the clinic.” There is always something that you can do. Simply talking to people is the start; reminding people of their responsibilities to the community is always a great start. Actually having a discussion with them about what could have been done to save the Wanniassa clinic would have been another good start.
The minister started by accusing people of being dishonest. She said it is dishonest for people to say that anything more could be done. Well, I think it is very sad that Minister Gallagher has called Annette Ellis dishonest. I went to the rally that Annette Ellis organised in a bipartisan way, and there were a number of Liberals there. Mr Pratt was there with me, and there were other Liberals there. Annette Ellis said more has to be done to stop the closure. “Things need to be done. Things should be done. Let’s do things. Let’s work as a community.” So to have the minister call Annette Ellis dishonest in that way I think is despicable. Annette Ellis cannot respond in this place. It is probably more about the fact that she is in the wrong faction.
Ms Gallagher: The ultimate twister!
MR SMYTH: Well, you were not there. You did not have the courage to do down there and see what happened. I know it was a sitting day; I know it was a lot to ask on a sitting day, but Mr Pratt and I managed to get down there. You could have come if you had wanted to. People looked for you. Annette Ellis got there. Candidates got there, but you did not, minister. To stand here and attack Annette Ellis in that way I think is despicable. The community looked to their leaders on that day. They looked to their leaders—
Ms Gallagher: Talk to the report; talk to the issue.
MR SMYTH: This is the issue. The issue is leadership, and your lack of leadership. Do you want me to remind you of what you said? Let me remind you. I am happy to remind you:
The practice will not stay operating; that is what I am explaining. The practice will close. There is absolutely nothing I can do.
An apologist. That is what that is. That is a defeatist:
… there are very few things that we can do about this.
Ms Gallagher said that on 7 August.
Ms Gallagher: The ACT government.
MR SMYTH: There are plenty of things you could do.
Ms Gallagher: The ACT government.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .