Page 3403 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011

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The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (4.26): Before I get into some closing comments, I do need to briefly respond to what Ms Bresnan just had to say in that extraordinary contribution where she said there is no evidence that Doug Buchanan was sacked because of his opposition to the needle exchange—none, aside from his word, of course; none, aside from the word of Doug Buchanan whom clearly Ms Bresnan does not believe—and no counter evidence in fact.

We have not heard why he was sacked. There has been no alternative put publicly. The only claim we have heard publicly is that he was sacked because of his opposition to the needle exchange. Clearly Ms Bresnan does not believe him. Clearly Ms Bresnan is now doubting his word, this man who was praised for his efforts before being unceremoniously sacked, for no apparent reason. He believes it was because of his opposition to the needle exchange program.

If there is an alternative story from the government, we should hear it. We should hear what was his grievous sin, because nothing has been put out there as to why he was sacked. So I, for one, believe him. I, for one, believe he has no reason to lie. If the government have an alternative, they should put it out there.

Secondly, we have Ms Bresnan saying that, effectively, he does not know what is good for him. Mr Buchanan wants an inquiry, and the Greens are saying to him: “You do not know what you are talking about. You need to be saved from yourself. There is a better way, a quiet way.” That does not work. That has not worked for Mr Buchanan. It does not work for others. So I think that we see again the Greens just treating people with contempt. They meet them and pretend they care, pretend they are listening, and then sell them out, as they have to Doug Buchanan today.

I think that this motion goes to the character of this government, and I think that after 10 long years of this government we have seen its true character. It has started to come out. Its character is reflected in its treatment of people like Doug Buchanan. Its character is reflected in its treatment of people like Debbie Scattergood. Its character is reflected in its treatment of staff at Bimberi. Its character is reflected in its treatment of the chief planner, Neil Savery.

The Greens do not like talking about these individual cases because they demonstrate the character of this government. They are just the ones we know about. They are just

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