Page 2805 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 June 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Standing and temporary orders—suspension
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (10.55): I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mrs Dunne from moving a motion regarding Report 8 of the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs on the future use of the Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston and the Government response.
The Canberra Liberals believe that the government’s treatment of the issues outlined in report No 8 of the standing committee into the future of the Fitters Workshop has been badly dealt with and needs to be brought to the attention of this Assembly as a matter of urgency. This is the last day that the Assembly has to deal with this, and it is a matter that needs to be dealt with for the benefit of the community. To respect the views of the community, it needs to be dealt with today. The appropriate time to deal with it, because it refers to the report of the standing committee which is still on the notice paper, is in Assembly business.
After I discussed this with my colleagues, I circulated this information to members. I discussed it with Ms Le Couteur, and Ms Le Couteur said that although the Greens were keen to debate this issue they wished to debate it later in the day. I had a discussion with Ms Le Couteur and I said I agreed that perhaps we should finalise this later in the day and give people some time to contemplate it but because this was essentially Assembly business I would like to move the motion now so that I could speak on the motion and then I would be happy for it to be adjourned until a later hour this day.
This is an important issue for the people of Canberra. This is probably one of the most controversial issues that I have dealt with in my time in this Assembly, certainly the one that has caused the most public contribution to the debate in this term of the Legislative Assembly. And I believe that the underhanded approach of the minister in trying to bring in her complete condemnation of the work of the standing committee, under cover of the budget, was unseemly and wrong. I think this needs to be addressed in the clear light of day.
This is the time to do it. We are debating Assembly business. This is the time to do it. We are debating a matter which is on the notice paper, a report of the standing committee, which has been adjourned by Minister Burch. It is there on the notice paper. This is the time to do it. The people of the ACT are appalled by this minister, appalled by her performance.
Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: One moment. Stop the clock, thank you.
Mr Hargreaves: I am happy to have Mrs Dunne explain to us why we should suspend standing orders but not to prosecute the debate which she would otherwise be prosecuting later.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video