Page 4433 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 14 October 2009
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was getting. They believed that they were appropriate. What exactly did they negotiate on? They did not get much else in terms of what is in the agreement.
If you are going to argue that it is because they do not have the resources then why are you not out there arguing for more resources for the Auditor-General? Why are you not negotiating for more resources before the budget is passed for the Auditor-General? There was none of that. What we heard from Ms Bresnan was that the decision was made long ago and now we are hearing the justification. The main justification that this was this motion is illegal is ridiculous.
Ms Bresnan: I don’t believe I used that word.
MR SESELJA: You said it was in breach of the act, so inherently it would be illegal. It is not. The Assembly is quite entitled—
Ms Bresnan: I wish to raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I did not say “illegal” at all in my speech, so can Mr Seselja please withdraw that?
MR SESELJA: Mr Speaker, there is no point of order.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Bresnan has the floor.
Ms Bresnan: Can Mr Seselja please withdraw that?
MR SESELJA: Can we stop the clock?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, stop the clock.
Ms Bresnan: I did not say that this was an illegal motion at all in my speech.
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: if Ms Bresnan thinks that she has been misrepresented in that way, she can use standing order 47 at the end of Mr Seselja’s speech.
MR SPEAKER: Yes. Ms Bresnan, you might want to think about preparing yourself for the end of Mr Seselja’s speech. Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The arguments that have been put forward are simply weak. They seek to try and justify the decision that has already been made by the Greens, which is that they are going to support this come what may. Our position is that we should look at this and that the government needs to make a case. If you are going to make such a serious decision, you need to make a case.
We heard Ms Gallagher say that they have not done a cost-benefit analysis, but that is okay because this is not such a major change and they are just buying a hospital for $77 million. No cost-benefit analysis when you are purchasing a hospital for $77 million? One would think that the basic analysis that would need to be done by the government in making this decision and in selling this to the community would actually involve some form of cost-benefit analysis.
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