Page 2472 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 June 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (7.58), in reply: I would like to say that the Canberra Liberals dealt themselves out of this whole discussion a long, long time ago. I think it was really unfortunate that they did that. They did have a couple of amendments that obviously came in this morning that my office was aware of yesterday, but let us go to the issue of these amendments.
Yes, there are 25 amendments. Seven of them are substantive and the rest are consequential. The amendments are very much about clarifying aspects of this legislation and ensuring openness and accountability. I think what is really important—maybe Mr Coe really wants to listen up along with Mrs Dunne and Mr Seselja—is transparency.
Along the way in this process my office has briefed Mr Seselja’s office on two occasions with two different staff members in his office. Each version of these amendments as they have come through have been provided to your office, Mr Seselja. So this sudden carry on now that they only got them at 11.58 this morning, or whatever it is you are trying to say, you know is totally wrong. You have been provided along the way with amendments. You have been briefed along the way around—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS HUNTER: the direction and also what has been happening—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, stop interrupting, please.
MS HUNTER: So Madam Assistant Chair, I will speak through you. Mr Seselja knows that he has been kept up to speed on this. If he has not, that is not my problem because my office has briefed his office. If there has been a breakdown of communication in his office, I am very sorry about that. But that is not my issue. These were provided. Briefings were given and the context of why we were doing this was also clearly given to Mr Seselja along the way. As I said, I think it is very unfortunate—
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MS HUNTER: A point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne! Mrs Dunne, please be quiet.
MS HUNTER: I am just trying to get Mrs Dunne to be quiet for a moment while I am speaking, because I do not like shouting over people. But, really, they have been briefed. They have been given this information along the way. Also, we have put these amendments in response to the discussions that we have had with the property industry. We have been having ongoing discussions. We have picked up on the issues that they have raised and we have responded accordingly.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video