Page 593 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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Mr Hargreaves says:
… I would not touch them with a barge pole.
Whether you want to touch them with a barge pole or not does not mean that you have to treat them in this dreadful way. It is very sad that we are at this point.
It is a very simple motion, Mr Speaker. It calls for two simple things. Mr Hargreaves should apologise to the members of this place for his behaviour on the night of 15 February and for the words that he said that are clearly untrue. Nobody in this place believes it. Nobody has supported his words. He is the only one that has said words like this about the Tuggeranong Community Council and he is the only one who believes them to be true.
Let us have the apology and the correction. Then I think it would be appropriate to write to the Tuggeranong Community Council to apologise for the comments that he made. If you make scandalous statements like that in public, you should have the courage to apologise. If he had the courage, he would go and front the council on, I think, 6 March and apologise in person, but if he does not have that sort of courage he should at least be required to write a letter apologising so that we can put a floor under this, so that we can end this matter and say to everybody who is interested in working with the community council that we as an Assembly value them.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella) (12.07): Last Wednesday evening I was subjected to the usual barrage of catcalls from those opposite during a debate on Tuggeranong. Foolishly, Mr Speaker, I rose to their bait and returned fire, and I apologise to the Assembly for doing so. In returning fire, I made comments about the Tuggeranong Community Council which caused offence to the council. I have spoken to Mr Johnston, the president of the council, and written to him. In that conversation and in my letter I extended my apology for that offence, but I neglected to extend that apology to the wider council. I would like to publicly do so now.
Mr Speaker, I believe some history and context is required about now. At the time of making my comments, I had a view about the council which has since changed dramatically as a result of my conversation with Mr Johnston. Three years ago, roughly, there was a coup to change the executive of the council. The people behind that coup were the same people who had delivered threatening and abusive emails to me over a period of years—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: One moment, Mr Hargreaves. Stop the clocks. Members, I take this opportunity to reflect on the fact that Mr Smyth was heard in silence. Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I will start that piece again. Three years ago, roughly, there was a coup to change the executive of the council. The people behind that coup were the same people who had delivered threatening and abusive emails to me over a period of years concerning the issues of Karralika and the
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