Page 5678 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 November 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
membership forms and an application to join the Labor Club, to years 8, 9 and 10Â students. Minister, in a previous answer to a question on this topic, you answered:
I see nothing wrong, however, in providing information that was consistent with the intent of what we were there for, which was an advanced civics course.
Minister, what part of an advanced civics course covers promotion of membership forms for the Labor Club to year 8 students?
MS BURCH: If this is their theme for the day, the theme of the reply is that I have accepted that the material in the bags was inappropriate and I have apologised for any offence or distress to the families and schools. I have also apologised for the distress and offence caused to members, to the Assembly and to members that were also present at Campbell.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe?
MR COE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, who put the Labor Party membership forms into the bag that you handed out?
MS BURCH: Staff members in my office prepared the bags and I was not aware of the material in there until after the event. I take responsibility; I should have been aware of the material and certainly screened it, in which case that material would not have been permitted to be put out.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, why did you not check the contents of the bag before handing it out to year 8 children?
MS BURCH: It was an oversight on my behalf, Mr Speaker.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, do you accept that offering membership forms for the Canberra Labor Club is not part of a civics course and is completely inappropriate?
MS BURCH: Mr Speaker, I think I have said that I accept that it was inappropriate material.
Land Development Agency—environmental initiatives
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the minister for the Land Development Agency and concerns environmental initiatives for new LDA estates. Minister, at
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video