Page 3745 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I would also question Mr Smyth’s attack on the broader club industry, as outlined by the legislation he presented today, this motion and, again, the motion that he has got on the notice paper for tomorrow. I think it is worth drawing the Assembly’s attention to the fact that the champion of the consultation MPI yesterday has failed to consult anyone in the club industry over the intentions that he pursues through this. I would say that—
Mr Coe: How do you know that?
Mr Hanson: How do you know that?
MS GALLAGHER: That is not the feedback I have got. In fact, the feedback I have got more broadly across the club sector is that they have not been consulted over any of this and that they are extremely unhappy about the motion being put forward and the attacks that the Liberal Party are waging on the community aspect of the club industry in this town. I imagine the taverns would hold similar views.
But I would just say that, in Mr Smyth’s haste, he has failed to consult. These are difficult issues; they are worthy of further examination. In fact, we have been consulting for the last six months with the club industry on potential changes to arrangements that they would like to see implemented.
Mr Smyth: And when will you table that report?
MS GALLAGHER: Table which report?
Mr Smyth: Your response to the inquiry on changes?
MS GALLAGHER: We have not finished it. We have just received submissions. We got 24 submissions and, lo and behold, there was not one from Brendan Smyth saying that he would like to completely shut down any sale of any club for any reason for—I do not know—the rest of the year, maybe longer, whilst he investigates other matters in pursuit of a fight with the Labor Party.
But I would imagine that, if these were such huge issues of importance for the opposition and have been for some time and are not just a political campaign that is convenient for Mr Smyth to run at the moment, there would have been a submission raised and/or ideas proposed through that broad consultation process that we have undertaken. But no! What a surprise! There is nothing from the Liberal Party.
In relation to the Chief Minister, the Chief Minister has answered the questions fully and in detail and repeatedly. He has also called on the opposition, in response to repeated questioning of him and his responses to that question, to table any evidence they had to the contrary. You have not done so. The Chief Minister has answered in full. I think if you review the Hansard you will see that he has answered in full and he has answered in line with what other ministers have answered.
Mr Smyth: No, you thought we just said no.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .