Page 5680 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 November 2010
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MS BURCH: Thank you, Mr Smyth, for the question. I will say again that I have accepted that the material in that bag was inappropriate. I did not give a final oversight to that material, and again I apologise for any offence caused.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, the same form asks the students which other clubs they usually visit. In what way is this question consistent with the intent of an advanced civics course?
MS BURCH: It is not appropriate material and not an appropriate question.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, on what date did you find out what was included in the plastic bag?
MS BURCH: It was either the evening of that day or the morning thereafter when I got the final detail, when the staff advised me about what material was in the bag.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Given that answer—that you found out on the day or very soon after—why was it weeks later when you did in fact say:
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 …
MS BURCH: There was appropriate material there. There was material about this Assembly and all members and about our parliamentary process. That was included in the bag.
Mr Seselja: You were asked about a show bag.
Mr Hanson: You are dodgy!
Mr Hargreaves: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Hanson just threw across the chamber that the minister was dodgy. I ask you to ask him to withdraw it.
Mr Seselja: Is that unreasonable from that answer?
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, Mr Speaker—
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