Page 4342 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011

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Katy Gallagher’s interference in the appointment of the new Auditor-General will be examined by a Select Committee …

I will say that little bit again:

Katy Gallagher’s interference …

In other words, it is proven. It is done. It is over. It is only a question of whether she dies by electric chair or hanging. Furthermore, he goes on in this press release to say:

So clear was the improper behaviour, that the multi-party Public Accounts Committee found there was interference that, if left unchecked, could create serious interference in the future.

In other words, if people feel free to put out a media release pre-empting the result of a committee consideration, that will cause serious interference in the future. By your own petard you hoist yourself.

Members interjecting—

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I do not know how many times I have to put up with interjections from those opposite, please.

Now, he also says:

Katy Gallagher behaved in a way—

past tense—

that indicated this government believes that normal rules and procedures don’t apply to them.

He has said what has happened. A parliamentary committee has been established to determine whether that is so or not. Not so for Mr Smyth. He has determined already that that is so. Then he says:

That’s why this Assembly must stand up to an ACT government who believes they are above scrutiny and beyond reproach.

That is putting pressure on the privileges committee to make sure that they have the strength to do something Mr Smyth has determined should be done. Then he says:

I look forward to the select committee examining the interference in this process and—

get this—

putting in place stronger rules to prevent similar interference in the future.

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