Page 2414 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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opposition’s role, what an opposition should be doing, and what a government should be doing? These statements from the Labor Party which I will read are quite informative. This comes from the Stanhope 2001 election campaign launch on 10 October 2001. I seek leave to table that document, Mr Speaker.
Leave granted.
MR HANSON: I table the following document:
ACT Labor’s 2001 Campaign Launch—Extract from ALP website.
It is a fascinating read, and I encourage you all to take the opportunity.
Mr Seselja: I think it has turned out to be a work of fiction, though, hasn’t it?
MR HANSON: In some part it has, Mr Seselja. I will read some quotes from it. Mr Stanhope says:
Too often in contemporary politics—particularly for an opposition—the focus is on the negative.
But he says:
It almost has to be, and almost always is.
When we hear in this place “opposition for opposition’s sake”, we should remember that Mr Stanhope has previously said:
It has to be, and almost always is.
At that stage he thought it was okay. What he then said was:
Governments must be scrutinised. They must be accountable. This is a role of oppositions, and it is a role that is particularly necessary as governments become lazy, arrogant, aloof and accident prone.
He certainly had his crystal ball out that day, I would suggest, Mr Speaker. Indeed, he did. He further says—this is quite entertaining, to be honest:
A Stanhope Labor Government will put an end to the waste and mismanagement.
We’ll put an end to the fiascos.
I will lead a Government committed to openness, honesty, and inclusiveness.
In place of the waste and mismanagement and fiasco, we’ll implement well thought-out programs—
this program that we are talking about today is well thought out?—
drawn from policies developed—
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