Page 4988 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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(iii) an alternative site for the proposed pool development.”.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (11.18): I thank Mr Smyth for bringing this motion forward today. It is no surprise that Mr Smyth has been the first member elected in Brindabella at every election that he has contested; it is because he is in touch with his local community, he understands the needs of the people of Tuggeranong and south Woden and he represents them so well. We see another example of that today with Mr Smyth bringing forward an issue which is important to the people of Calwell and south-east Tuggeranong.
Mr Barr: So you think that will be the case in 2012 as well, Zed? You will beat him, will you, Brendan?
MR SESELJA: Mr Barr interjects because he is sensitive about how popular Mr Smyth is. But there is a reason why Mr Smyth is the first elected in Brindabella: because he works so hard for his community. Mr Barr could take lessons from Mr Smyth in his work as a local member. We can see the sensitivity.
Mr Smyth does do a good job and this is another example of it. He has been listening to the people of Calwell and south-east Tuggeranong. He was out there at the community day on Saturday listening to the local business owners, listening to the local residents who were coming and giving feedback, and this motion is the result of not just those discussions but other discussions that have been taking place with local residents.
The opposition to this motion, the considerable amending of this motion that we are seeing through both Mr Barr’s and Ms Bresnan’s amendments, is unfortunate because it misses the point.
I will go to Ms Bresnan’s amendment. Ms Bresnan is part of a coalition with the Labor Party. She has been a member for Brindabella for the last three years and she is now, only in response to what Mr Smyth is doing, coming out with a list of all the things that should be happening at Calwell. We will go through that list of the things that she now, after three years and in response to the motion of Mr Smyth, believes are critically important for the people of Calwell. The question for Ms Bresnan and the Greens is: where have they been for the last three years?
Ms Bresnan says what we really need is the provision of park and ride and bike and ride, provision of signage and paths around the area, to address parking, provision of a taxi zone, improved lighting, provision of bus shelters and ensuring that adequate roads and footpaths are provided. Ms Bresnan and the Greens have voted for each of the last three budgets. Surely there was some scope in those three budgets for them to get something for the people of Calwell. Surely in those three budgets, in those $4 billion-plus budgets each year, they could have found some money for signage and paths in the area, for the provision of a taxi zone, for improved lighting for community safety, the provision of bus shelters—but they have not.
Time and time again we are seeing the Greens, after more than three years in coalition, suddenly coming to the realisation that they have not achieved anything for their
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