Page 3509 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR SESELJA: Thank you very much, Mr Assistant Speaker, for your ruling. I just finish up by being able to finally commend Mr Smyth, in his presence, for the wonderful work he does for the people of the Tuggeranong Valley and south Woden in particular. But in this case, for the people of Chisholm and surrounds who do value their open space, Mr Smyth has stood side by side with the community in protecting environmental open space in Chisholm. It does remind me a little that Mr Corbell, of course, promised to have a referendum to protect all of these sites. We are waiting for the referendum. It must be a fourth-term agenda for Mr Corbell. The referendum will be coming soon.
So I would conclude by reiterating that practical environmental solutions are the key. That is how we will get better outcomes. That is what we will support. We will support them from opposition and we will certainly support them when we come into government.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I remind members that we have three minutes to go on this line.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (11.38): It is probably worth reminding Mr Seselja of a few home truths. He commends Mr Smyth for his efforts in relation to saving land from development but, of course, what he fails to mention is who zoned the land to develop it in the first place. Who changed the territory plan to provide for development on that land? It happened to be a Mr B Smith, Minister for Urban Services, responsible for planning in the Carnell government, who rezoned the land in Chisholm for development. I wonder whether Mr Seselja is out there telling that to the residents of Chisholm. I doubt it. I doubt it very much.
The other point that is worth making, of course, is that Mr Seselja professes his great concern and interest in infrastructure reform, infrastructure Canberra. That is a very important policy for him, one of the utmost importance and urgency. If it was of such importance and such urgency, why is it that he introduced his infrastructure Canberra bill back in November 2010 and has not yet brought that bill on for debate in this place? Thirty-two individual private members’ days have elapsed and Mr Seselja has not yet brought that bill on for debate. Where is his courage? Where is the courage of his convictions?
Mr Seselja and Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, Mr Hanson, you are on the list.
MR CORBELL: Where is his so-called professed commitment to infrastructure reform? He has a bill. He has a bill on the table. It has been on the table since November 2010 and he has shown no capacity, interest or willingness to put it to a vote or even allow debate on his bill in this place.
Mr Hanson: I am making a point of order, Mr Assistant Speaker.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video