Page 3802 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 2011
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MR BARR: It is interesting, Mr Speaker, to hear the protestations of the shadow treasurer. These policies are not set in stone, apparently. They are still open for some influence. As Mr Seselja indicated, it is two years before the next federal election. So there is ample opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition, the shadow treasurer—even Mr Hanson, who I am told is a most honourable man—
Mr Hanson: Who told you that?
MR BARR: I think someone in the crowd at Julius Caesar suggested that you were indeed a most honourable man. That is what is being said about you around this place. But, Mr Speaker, I digress for a moment.
MR SPEAKER: You do, Mr Barr.
MR BARR: It is still there for the Leader of the Opposition, the shadow treasurer, the shadow minister for health—
Mr Hanson: Have you not noticed me talk about health once or twice?
MR BARR: No, I was just thinking what I hear you talking about most. Mostly it is just interjecting.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR BARR: There is not a shadow minister for interjections—
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, members; let us focus on the debate.
MR BARR: Mr Speaker, if there was, Mr Hanson certainly would be a walk-up star for that position. But you have the opportunity between now and the next federal election to influence what the federal Liberal policy will be in relation to public sector cuts. I note that the Leader of the Opposition in his allotted time in speaking to his amendment was not able to clarify, or refused to clarify after his conversation with the leader of the opposition, just how many jobs will be lost in the ACT under a policy that he says he does not believe in. Nonetheless, he was not able to give any further information other than what—a two-year period, and 12,000 jobs to go? Presumably, given the comments from Mr Hanson, those jobs will be in Canberra. (Time expired.)
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (4.57): Mr Speaker, it behoves members when they come to this place with motions to make sure that their motions are accurate and that, in moving motions, they do not inadvertently mislead the house. It is quite clear from what Ms Porter said that she was totally ignorant of the fact that the Leader of the Opposition has already complied with most of this motion. He has already spoken to the federal Leader of the Opposition as well as writing to the Leader of the Opposition. But, more importantly, he has also written to the federal government, and he has held both to account for the impact of their policies on the people we all represent. And nobody else in this place has done that.
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