Page 631 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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I have received some correspondence from some very concerned constituents who are not members of the Tuggeranong Community Council, but they feel that all the elderly—or geriatrics as they were described—in Canberra have been insulted. They suggest the comments may breach anti-discrimination laws.
Chief Minister, it is over to you. These comments have been made and made again. An apology has now been made, but the apology has opened up an even wider group of people who will now need to be apologised to. How long will this go on? Apology after apology or foot in mouth after foot in mouth?
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (3.20): It is not surprising that we have this motion here today—anything to distract from matters closer to home for the Canberra Liberals. But I take this opportunity, Madam Assistant Speaker, to reiterate my support for the Tuggeranong Community Council and, indeed, other community organisations that I meet with regularly.
The government works closely and meets regularly with the Tuggeranong Community Council and with all community organisations. As the President of the Tuggeranong Community Council, Darryl Johnston, would attest, the Chief Minister and I meet regularly with him to discuss a range of issues important to the Tuggeranong community, and it has always been made abundantly clear to the Tuggeranong Community Council that my door is always open for them, and they often exercise this invitation. We do not necessarily have to agree with everything they say or they do not have to agree with everything we say. Most people do not expect that—
Opposition members interjecting—
Mr Hargreaves: Point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, the minister heard those opposite in silence, and I ask you to ask them to extend her the same courtesy please.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Absolutely. Ms Burch, you have the floor.
MS BURCH: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. What is needed is honesty, respect and openness in those discussions. The Chief Minister and Mr Hargreaves have written to the council, apologising for Mr Hargreaves’s remarks, and many conversations have occurred with Mr Johnston. Mr Hargreaves has here in this place very clearly apologised to the council.
But I suspect this motion is not something Mr Johnston would ask for or even welcome. As Ms Bresnan has noted, Mr Smyth has not even had the decency and courtesy to contact Mr Johnston and raise this motion with him.
My support for the work of the Tuggeranong Community Council is as strong as ever it was. Just last week following Mr Hargreaves’s comments in the adjournment debate I said:
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