Page 587 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012

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(b) older Canberrans by John Hargreaves, in the Legislative Assembly on 15 February 2012, by using “geriatric” as a slur; and

(2) supports:

(a) all aged volunteers for the valuable services they provide in the ACT; and

(b) the Tuggeranong Community Council in all its endeavours;

(3) notes that the Chief Minister of the ACT, Katy Gallagher, and John Hargreaves have only apologised to the President of the Tuggeranong Community Council for the comments made by Mr Hargreaves; and

(4) calls on the Assembly:

(a) to require Mr Hargreaves to apologise to the Assembly for the comments he made about the Tuggeranong Community Council in the adjournment debate on 15 February 2012; and

(b) to request that Mr Hargreaves write to the members of the Tuggeranong Community Council to apologise for the comments which he made in the Assembly on 15 February 2012.

Madam Deputy Speaker, this is an important motion. It is important because members of our community have been insulted by a member of this place, and the comments that that member made still stand on the record. I believe that, where comments are made that (1) are untrue and (2) apparently no-one in this place but Mr Hargreaves, as the speaker, agrees with, we have an obligation that the record should be corrected. And not only should the record be corrected: an apology is required to this place for bringing the house into disrepute.

Mr Hanson interjecting—

MR SMYTH: Members, if you have not read your members code of conduct, it says under “Duties as Members”—

Mr Hargreaves interjecting—

MR SMYTH: It says:

Members should avoid any decision or action which may depreciate the reputation of the Assembly and endeavour to reasonably adhere to the Assembly’s code of conduct to ensure that their personal conduct—

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, resume your seat. Mr Hanson?

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