Page 4927 - Week 13 - Thursday, 12 November 2009
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In marked contrast from the cheap political points that we see attempted to be scored day after day from Mr Seselja on this issue, I think the rest of the Assembly recognises that there is a far more sensible way to address this issue. The government has always recognised—
Mr Seselja: You always worry when you get commendation from the minister for your scrutiny. It is always a worry. The more comfortable the government is with the scrutiny, the less effective it is.
MR CORBELL: It is always a good barometer of how effective you are going in your argument in this place when you hear Mr Seselja starting to talk amongst his colleagues. The louder the conversation is from that side of the chamber, the more you can be certain that what you are saying is causing a little bit of pain, causing a little bit of discomfort, causing a little bit of concern for those opposite.
Of course, we hear Mr Seselja’s arguments in silence even when we do not like them or disagree with them. But he cannot handle it when some arguments are put to him that he finds a little bit uncomfortable. The bottom line the bottom line is that Mr Seselja is a voice in the wilderness on this issue. There is nobody else out there in the community, in the business sector, anywhere else in Canberra saying we need an inquiry of the form that Mr Seselja is proposing. The only person who is making that argument is Mr Seselja and he is an increasingly lonely and singular voice on this matter.
The issues around the Cotter Dam project have been at every stage well advanced and well detailed to the Assembly and the community. There has been a detailed process ongoing since—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Members of the opposition, please, the minister should continue in silence.
MR CORBELL: There has been a detailed process ongoing since 2002, Madam Assistant Speaker. Since 2002 as part of the ACT’s water strategy think water, act water—
Mr Seselja: He is like Karin MacDonald. When thinking of the words, he has to stop.
Mr Hanson: Poor Simon.
MR CORBELL: Madam Assistant Speaker, I would ask you to draw opposition members to order. This is an important debate but it seems the opposition are not interested in hearing from anyone except their own side.
Mr Seselja: Madam Assistant Speaker, a point of order.
MR CORBELL: It just shows the cheap political points they try to score on this matter. I am endeavouring to make a range of points, Madam Assistant Speaker—
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