Page 3462 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011
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generous provisions of the standing orders in this place, we had an hour’s worth of debate on an MPI, we had papers, and that was the end of the day.
From the government’s perspective, this is not an unusual occurrence. We frequently see time allocated for executive business consumed by the wanton desire of Mr Seselja and his colleagues to wreck the proceedings of this place. And we saw it again this afternoon. This afternoon, rather than cooperating in the debate and allowing a reasonable modicum of speakers from each side on important matters, as is the sensible way to manage business in this place—maybe one or two speakers from each side to address the key issues, given the length of the program on private members’ business—we saw the indulgence of every single member of the opposition stand up, repeatedly in some instances, to speak on the issue of Mr Coe’s motion.
I am sure that their views over on that side of the chamber are strongly held, but if they are going to adopt that sort of indulgent and childish approach that we see all too often in this place, other parties in this place are going to have to take steps to make sure that the other business listed on the notice paper actually gets done, because that is what we have to try and achieve in this place.
Mr Seselja really does not care about what gets done as long as his stuff gets done. Well, it is not just about his stuff; it is about the business of the Assembly overall. That is the obligation that he has as Leader of the Opposition to focus on in this place, and he just does not care. He is the mini Tony Abbott; all swagger and no substance in this place. He really is.
It is no wonder that there are increasing rumours around this city about people saying: “Zed, you’ve done your dash. Zed, are you making the ground? You’re just not cutting it anymore.” We had the freudian slip from Mr Doszpot, acknowledging Mr Seselja as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. We have seen the increasing swaggering confidence of Mr Hanson, who we know has been tapped on the shoulder by those leaders in the business community, saying: “Jeremy, Zed just hasn’t got it, mate. He hasn’t got it.” So we know what is going on over on that side of the chamber. Zed Seselja is great about the swagger and the bluster in this place but he has nothing else.
MR SPEAKER: Order! The time allotted for the debate has expired.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 7.53 pm.
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