Page 3475 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Ms Hunter: They are playing up.
MR RATTENBURY: Yes, indeed. There is nothing like an audience, is there, gentlemen? I stand to absolutely support the statements I made and to—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR RATTENBURY: Are you ready? This is how they always operate, ladies and gentlemen. It is quite an eye-opener, is it not?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, please be quiet.
MR RATTENBURY: I am quite comfortable to stand by the words I used because, of course, they were said in a perfectly clear context. I was talking about the fact that we were calling for an assessment of the area. If that assessment came back and said, “This is an area of such national environmental significance that the entire area should be protected,” then the Greens would have been willing to along with that scientific assessment. That was the observation I was making.
The question I would ask back to Mr Seselja, and I would be happy to give him leave to answer this question, is: if the environmental assessment had come back and said Throsby should be set aside because it is of such national environmental significance under John Howard’s EPBC laws would Mr Seselja have proceeded with development on the site nonetheless? Would he have sought to defy the commonwealth? Would he have sought to defy the environmental assessment?
Ms Hunter: Would he have sought to trash the area?
MR RATTENBURY: Would he have sought to trash the area that had been identified as needing protection? That was the context in which I made my comments. The challenge stands now for Mr Seselja. Would he defy those scientific assessments and build the suburb anyway?
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, please be quiet. Mr Barr.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (9.31): It seems a pity to break up this little love-in that is going on. It is good to see you guys getting on so well! Meanwhile, we will get on with governing the territory and you guys can play Thursday night footsies in front of the seven members of the southern branch of the Liberal Party. It is terrific to see you all here too. Welcome.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, I cannot hear Mr Barr. Please be quiet.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video