Page 532 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS GALLAGHER: They are unable to think for themselves, unable to represent their community. They are told that they must continue to undermine every single effort to respond to local community needs. The venomous personal attack that I continue to be on the receiving end of from the Leader of the Opposition—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: in relation to allegations that I have lied to my electorate is incorrect—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please!
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: and I take enormous offence at—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Stop the clock. Members of the opposition, if you want to talk amongst yourselves please do so outside the chamber. Minister, go ahead.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I would remind those opposite that I have faced continued assessment of my performance at three elections where I have been elected to this place with overwhelming support to represent my community, and I will continue to do so in the best way that I can, and I will never, ever, ever tell a lie—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: and I have often paid the price for being incredibly honest, but I will continue to do so, because it is the right thing to do. In relation to Ginninderra district high, I do not walk away from that decision. The government did not have any plans to close any schools at that point in time, and six weeks after an election I visited that school and that school was dying. It had 140 students. Year 10 was the biggest year—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: Year 10 was the biggest year—
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, Mr Doszpot, next time there is a warning.
MS GALLAGHER: I think from memory about 50 students were due to leave the school. That school was going to have 80 enrolments across four years. It was not going to be able to offer electives. The school was run down. Anybody who walked around that school could not have ignored the significant and serious issues facing
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video