Page 3404 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011

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some of the ones we know about as to how this government treats people. Each of them is a disgraceful case. Each of them reflects poorly on this government. Each of them suggests that this government treats with contempt dissenters, people with a contrary view. It subjects them to retribution, and they are subjected to arbitrary dismissal, in some cases, if they happen to disagree with the government or question the government.

This is about character, and what we are asking for is that the government recognise the wrong that has been done to some of these people, that the government apologise, that the Chief Minister apologise or that the Chief Minister show some leadership, the opposite type of leadership to what she showed in relation to the bullying. Instead of encouraging this kind of behaviour, as she did in relation to bullying at Canberra Hospital, she should actually show leadership and say that this is unacceptable. And the government should apologise and rectify where they have damaged people as a result of this culture of retribution and bullying.

That is the character test that they have failed today. The Labor Party and the Greens have again squibbed it. They have chosen not to be open. They have chosen not to make amends. These things will continue. They will continue because the message has again been sent to agencies that this kind of behaviour will go unpunished and this kind of behaviour will continue. We do not believe that is appropriate and we will stand up for those individuals, whether the Greens or the Labor Party do or not. Whether they want to sell Doug Buchanan, Debbie Scattergood or any of these people down the river, we will stand up for them because these cases highlight the broader problem. They highlight the culture of intimidation and bullying, and we will not stand for it.

So I do commend the motion to the Assembly. I believe that we, as legislators and representatives, have not just the right but the duty take up the case of these people. If we do not, the Assembly, in voting today to reject this, is rejecting justice for these people who have been wronged, who have been seriously wronged in some cases by this government and by the culture that has been created by these ministers.

Question put:

That Mr Seselja’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Motion negatived.

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