Page 2034 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 May 2009
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He did not repudiate the views expressed on this site. Instead, he went missing in action.
That silence condones the behaviour and it condones the slurs. It condones a very nasty and juvenile way of doing politics and it reflects the culture of this nasty and timid opposition, an opposition that has more in common with a high school clique than a viable alternative government. It is run by amateurs—spiteful, juvenile amateurs. Did we see any earnest investigation into who might be responsible for this dirty ploy? Did we see any action at all?
On the eve of this sitting, in response to a letter from me to the Leader of the Opposition, we see the true cowardly approach followed by the Liberal Party. Instead of an indication that they were taking this matter seriously, the letter demanded answers from me about this episode. It appears that Zed’s way of investigating this episode was not to make inquiries into his own party, his own staff and his own members—all of whom are linked to these fake sites. No; Zed decided to investigate me.
I call on Zed Seselja to inform this Assembly before the end of this sitting period whether he has any knowledge of anyone in his party responsible for making these slurs. I call on him to publicly repudiate the views expressed on this bogus site. I call on him to undertake to seek an assurance from all his party, staff and fellow MLAs that they did not participate in this exercise, and to report that assurance to the Assembly.
Facebook has removed the fraudulent sites after my complaints, and they have confirmed to me that the content did breach the terms and conditions of the use of Facebook. While I am pleased that the site has been pulled down, this will not be the end of the matter for me. I am determined to find out who is behind this, and I am taking further advice on the options available to me.
It is unfortunate that I even have to be giving this speech tonight, when there are so many other pressing issues important to the people of Canberra, but I have given the Liberals the opportunity to redeem themselves over this episode. They have had weeks to come out and deal with this matter, and they have chosen not to. I have decided that it would not be right to say nothing and to give the opposition leader and his petty party a free pass on this—to say that this is a legitimate way of doing politics, a legitimate way of prosecuting a political agenda. It is not okay.
The Liberal Party, and their leader and all of his MLAs, stand condemned for their silence. This whole episode has revealed how lightweight the Liberal Party really are—no honour, no courage, and obviously destined to be in opposition for a long, long time.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 5.53 pm.
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