Page 2816 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 24 June 2009
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MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Could we just have a little hush. There is no point of order.
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The point of order was simply about wasting time because the fragile little violet that is the Leader of the Opposition is the wobble, wobble man, the flim-flam man, the man without a plan, the opposition for opposition’s sake Mr Seselja. We have three motions today on the notice paper from the Liberal Party, and each of the three motions essentially proposes that the Chief Minister be condemned. Why should the Chief Minister be condemned? The Chief Minister should be condemned for being the Chief Minister—for daring to win the last election!
It is interesting that here we are, eight months after the election, and the Liberal Party have not yet come to terms with the fact that they lost—that they are not in government, that they lost the election, that in fact Mr Seselja, the great white hope of the Liberal Party, produced the second worst result ever produced by a Liberal leader in an ACT election. It was second only to Trevor Kaine. Interestingly—I think most interestingly—Mr Smyth, I must say with quite becoming modesty as he sits there as the deputy, has not in the last months taken the opportunity presented to say, “Actually, I did do far better as leader than Mr Seselja.”
Mr Hanson: If everyone knew you were being condemned today, where are your mates?
MR STANHOPE: It is most becoming of you, Mr Smyth—most becoming that, as the deposed leader, you actually did better than your successor.
Mr Seselja: It hurts that I got more votes than you, Jon.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock for a minute, please. Order, members!
MR STANHOPE: I have been impressed, Mr Smyth, that you have managed to contain yourself.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope, could you resume your seat for a second. I wish to hear what Mr Stanhope is saying. It is very difficult to hear what he is saying above the baiting across the chamber. And could you please stop baiting the opposition, Mr Stanhope.
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I accept your admonition, but I had for some time wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge Mr Smyth’s particularly modest—
Mr Seselja: And that I got more votes than you. Have you acknowledged that yet?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Seselja!
MR STANHOPE: Mr Smyth’s modesty—
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