Page 3574 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 25 August 2009
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MR HARGREAVES: I do. I do indeed. That is because I have sat here and had to look at them for so long that I now know that such a plurality actually exists. Mr Speaker, Mrs Dunne asked me how much influence did all of that have. It all had an equal influence. I took on board a lot of the concerns of the community; I took on board concerns of my own group; I took on board concerns—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: I took on board the concerns that were conveyed to me by Kerrie Tucker when she was in this place. Kerrie Tucker was instrumental in allowing me to say, “Well, yeah; let’s give it another shot.” I did not want to then, but I suggest give it another shot.
These guys, on the other hand, supported Steve Pratt’s bill. Mr Doszpot goes to the election saying, “Liberal Party’s policy is to ban fireworks.” How things change. Mr Doszpot comes to the election and says he supports the Liberal Party’s policy to ban fireworks. Now we have Mrs Dunne getting her own way by rolling everybody in the party room. She is the one who said I cannot speak to any one of her colleagues on this matter. I wanted to speak to every member in this chamber, but Mrs Dunne said, “No. I’m the queen of industrial relations. You have to speak to me. You shall not get to heaven unless it’s through me.” So what happens? I gave these other guys everything that I had.
Mr Speaker, I really think that they are talking absolute rot. I cannot answer all of their questions at once. I can do you one at a time, but I cannot do you all at once.
Public service—20th anniversary
MS BURCH: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, behind every ACT government is a committed, dedicated public service. Can you please advise the Assembly of the value of the ACT public service in its 20th anniversary year?
MR STANHOPE: I thank Ms Burch for the question. While 2009, as we all know, is the 20th anniversary of the ACT Legislative Assembly, it is also the 20th anniversary of the ACT public service—a public service that may be modest in size but that is equal to any in the nation when it comes to quality.
I and my ministerial colleagues have had the honour in recent weeks to attend ceremonies to recognise those public servants who were with us on day one—who made the transition from the commonwealth public service at the moment of self-government—and who have gone on to build great careers serving their community over the subsequent 20 years. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of those public servants and hearing their stories.
In Territory and Municipal Services alone, there are 537 men and women who have given 20 years of service to their community, Canberra. In Disability, Housing and Community Services there are another 60. Right across the service, there are 2,084 men and women who were a part of the ACT public service at the start and who are still here to help celebrate its 20th anniversary.
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