Page 2144 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 8 May 2012
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I might also suggest that they did not say that all of the furore around the route that it was to take—organised, perpetrated and encouraged by those opposite, in concert with the Save the Ridge people—cost the project $23 million. Had that $23 million been available, that road would have been duplicated from the beginning. It was their agitation, the change of the route and challenges from the courts that cost us that kind of figure. It needs to be said, and it needs to be said frequently.
Mr Seselja also talked about artworks. Again, they are on major arterial roads. Mr Seselja, an erstwhile candidate for the seats in Brindabella, has not all that long ago moved into the suburb of Fadden. He is now advocating for one of the streets in Fadden which does not have a very large number of residents living upon that street. It provides an exit route for that very same leader of the opposition to get out onto Bugden Avenue; therefore he wants his road fixed—his road. He is not concerned particularly about the residents of Tuggeranong—just his road that he needs to get fixed.
What did he do by way of backing it up? What in the way of evidence-based debating did Mr Seselja provide us with? His personal opinion on the way things have gone and then a whole diatribe from letters to the editor of the Canberra Times. I believe the letters to the Canberra Times are representative. I think they are a wonderful example of scientific evidence-based decision making. I think it is terrific.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I heard all speakers in silence. I am not surprised to see Mr Hanson come down here and be the ignorant person that he is and has demonstrated to us all. I shall ignore him forthwith. Madam Deputy Speaker, in 2001 when Ms—
Mr Hanson: Madam Deputy Speaker—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock. Mr Hargreaves, resume your seat.
Mr Hanson: On a point of order, I would ask whether calling me an ignorant person is unparliamentary. I would ask you to rule on it.
MR HARGREAVES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I withdraw the comment about Mr Hanson being ignorant. I should have said “rude” instead of “ignorant”. I apologise to Mr Hanson for that slip of my tongue.
What we did not hear Mr Seselja talk about was the Liberal Party’s opposition to the on-road cycle paths that we did in the 2001 election. I went to a gathering of people with Mr Rattenbury, a candidate at the particular time, saying that an incoming Labor government would do the Downer to Civic on-road cycle path. We committed $4.5 million to that thing. Mr Smyth, the then Minister for Urban Services, opposed that. They have opposed the on-road cycle paths ever since. It needs to be said that these people do not tell the whole story.
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