Page 1669 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 April 2009

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MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition): I seek leave to briefly respond to Mr Barr if I could.

Leave granted.

MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mrs Dunne has touched on issues around misrepresenting her, but I think there was a far stronger imputation which was made by the minister. The imputation was—and it was very clear—that, because the Liberal Party in the ACT has members with the names Seselja and Doszpot, we cannot take up issues such as whether or not British workers should be brought in to replace Australian workers. I think that is quite a disgraceful imputation. It is essentially saying that we cannot engage in these public policy debates, that we cannot talk about these very legitimate issues, because of the surnames of some of our members. I find that particularly offensive. I ask the minister to withdraw it and think very carefully about making those kinds of comments in the future.

MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation): Mr Speaker, I did not say that, but again, if Mr Seselja has taken that interpretation, I apologise.

MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella): Mr Speaker, I would like that apology applied to myself as well, thank you.

MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation): Mr Speaker, if Mr Doszpot would also like that apology extended, if he has taken the inference from my comments to that effect, then I apologise; that was not my intention and I apologise to Mr Doszpot.

Mr Hargreaves: And me too, Mr Speaker; I come from England.

MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Planning and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation): Mr Speaker, if Mr Hargreaves has taken offence, as the grandson of a British migrant—

Members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Order, members! We are now returning to private members’ business.

Youth Week

MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (3:11): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

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