Page 5212 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The opposition reserves its right to make an informed decision once it has been made aware of all the facts. We will not be rushed. We will not be pressured by the government through some sort of scare campaign to force us to make a decision.
That is exactly what the Liberal Party is doing now.
Mr Seselja: You decided before you had even seen any of the detail.
Mr Hanson: You were the ones who were saying why we would not come to the decision.
Ms Gallagher: This is your statement.
MS BRESNAN: That is your statement, Mr Hanson. Let us get this right. The Liberals are pushing for the Greens to make a final decision even though we are yet to see the government’s response to consultations, we are yet to have a final proposal put before us and we will not see a final proposal until, most likely, next year.
Unlike the Greens, the Liberals were more concerned about making a fast decision than making a right one. They went and made a decision even before all the facts were out there, and now they are regretting it. They are out of the game and hurling abuse from the sidelines, because there is nothing else for them to do. The Liberals accuse the Greens of being hypocritical, yet the Liberals themselves are the ones who support—
Mr Hanson: If the facts aren’t on the table, how are you able to make a decision, Katy, by that same rationale?
Ms Gallagher: We haven’t taken a final decision on it. It has to go back to cabinet.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan! Ms Gallagher!
Mr Rattenbury: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker: Mr Hanson has consistently interrupted Ms Bresnan while she is speaking. I ask you to call him to order.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Yes. I think I should follow the good advice. Mr Hanson, please; I need to call you to order. Ms Bresnan has the floor.
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. The Liberals accuse the Greens of being hypocritical, yet the Liberals themselves are the ones who support private ownership of public health facilities and then do not support the sale of the hospice. Could it be that the Liberals’ position is not based on their principles but, rather, could be labelled opportunistic? I note that the Liberals have accused this motion of being symbolic, but I would argue that it is incredibly powerful for the Assembly to call on a large private organisation that is a significant power in the ACT to step away from something that they are pursuing.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video