Page 2971 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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MR CORBELL: I am glad that now we can take points of order on prospective breaches of the standing orders. I reflect on the fact that the Liberal Party has adopted a position of refusing to support changes to the law of murder in the territory to bring it in line with the common law definition that exists right around this country. They have refused to support such a change and have sought, in a whole range of ways, to avoid that issue. But when it comes to serious and organised crime, yes, let us pass those tough anti-gang laws straightaway.
This is the complete hypocrisy of the Liberal Party: on the one hand, we want the anti-gang laws and we want them now; but, when it comes to implementing the radical concept of the common law definition of murder in the territory, we stand resolutely opposed to it. This highlights that the Liberal Party have adopted a position of a cheap political point to be scored by saying that they are tough, that the ACT is soft, on organised crime gangs. But where is their commitment to upholding fundamental common law principles by supporting changes to the common law definition of murder which this government has introduced into this place?
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne.
Mrs Dunne: The minister’s time has expired. I won’t bother to take the point of order.
ACTION bus service—Belconnen bus interchange
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Minister, why did you spend over $50,000 repainting the Belconnen bus interchange when you planned to close it within a year?
MR STANHOPE: I think ACTION bus commuters and clients deserve facilities, particularly at an interchange, that are not in a state of disrepair and gloom and that clients, as they wait for a bus, as they change buses, can wait in an environment that is as fresh as it can be made, having regard to the age and nature of the facility. I do not know whether members have visited the Belconnen bus interchange over the last couple of years, particularly before it had been painted, but it was simply awful, and it was quite appropriate that it be repainted and refurbished.
Mr Speaker might be able to assist us here; I think, Mr Coe, that your office was painted before you moved into it. I guess we could ask how much that cost and why we bothered to repaint Mr Coe’s office. He will only be here for four years, so I guess the question could be asked: why did we bother? Mr Coe, did you think that you deserved to have your office painted before you moved into it but that, with respect to the residents of Belconnen, your constituents, you did not think that your constituents deserved to have a bus interchange that was as fresh and as bright as it might be? I would be happy, next time I am out and about, Mr Coe, to let your constituents know that you do not think they deserve—
Mr Coe: That’s right, put out a release. I dare you to put out a release on it, Jon.
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