Page 4008 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 2010
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ourselves in this place. It is not right to say today that some bumbled words beyond the deadline are an apology. I did not hear the word “apology”. I did not hear the words, “I withdraw what I said.” I did not hear, “Mr Coe, I have checked and, yes, you are correct. I apologise.”
Perhaps there is a secret language that I have not been made privy to where you can say things that people think they hear and, therefore, it is all okay. That is not on. It does not work that way; it has never worked that way; it should never work that way. Go back to what Ms Gallagher said. She thought she was right. She stood up to me and said, “No, you’re wrong. You didn’t do it.” I said, “Well, you go and check.” She checked, and she came down and she withdrew and she apologised. That is how it should be, and that is why this censure should be supported by the Assembly today.
I would ask the Greens to reconsider their position, because the bar that you have just lowered and the standard that you have just set means that there is no accountability here whatsoever.
Ms Bresnan: You’re lowering the bar every day.
MR SMYTH: Ms Bresnan says we lower the bar every day. Then bring the censure against me when I lower the bar. That is your right—
Ms Bresnan: Your behaviour is appalling.
MR SMYTH: Then censure me for my behaviour if you think my behaviour is inappropriate. You have that right. That is the form of this place. But you do not, because you know it is not right and you know that it is not true.
In this case, it is so clear that the minister fumbled her dixer, fumbled her correction and fumbled her apology today. This is not something that has happened since quarter to 10; this is something that has now been going for a week. The minister should just simply stand and say, “I withdraw and I apologise.” The Assembly should pass this motion because this motion is worthy of support.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.34): Ms Burch has said sorry for the error that she has made, and that is the expectation and the obligation on her part.
Mrs Dunne: She did not.
Mr Hanson: She did not, Simon. That is the point.
Mr Coe: That is a lie, Simon.
Mrs Dunne: That is the point.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Let us hear from Mr Corbell.
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