Page 3606 - Week 08 - Friday, 24 August 2012
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MS BURCH: I find it extremely extraordinary that a candidate on that team heads up Homelessness Australia. I wonder what the CEO of Homelessness Australia would think of one of her team members saying: “Youth homelessness is not my problem. It is not negotiable. Put it somewhere else. We don’t care.”
Mr Smyth: Who said that?
MS BURCH: Who said what, Mr Smyth?
MR SPEAKER: Ms Burch, we are not having a debate across the chamber. Ms Burch will say her piece. She will direct it through the chair, and then other members are welcome to speak. I will give you the call straight after Ms Burch. Let us conduct it that way. Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will table two documents. I will table a document that has been authorised by the Assembly-paid ACT president and man of the community himself where it says:
This means the things the local government must do receives the highest priority such as health, education, public transport and urban services.
And they are right; they are good services. It goes on:
The rest is frankly negotiable … This is a true Liberal vision.
Mr Coe: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I ask whether what the minister is harping on about now is relevant to an appropriation bill.
MR SPEAKER: I believe we are discussing the issue of homelessness and the group house in Chisholm. My understanding of the debate is that is probably relevant to the housing portfolio. If I misunderstand the debate, members may clarify it with me, but I think that is where we are at.
MS BURCH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. It was, indeed, because Ms Bresnan brought in the matter of a safe shelter. That was not in the budget, but we had that discussion. That led me to supporting youth homelessness. That led me to the Liberal Party, which says, “The rest is frankly negotiable; that is true Labor vision.” That is fantastic. You can negotiate being homeless, you can negotiate the support offered by the Canberra Liberals. I will table that document.
The other quote—and there were statements across the floor about who said what—was: “Contact Brendan Smyth, MLA, who actively opposes the proposal.” I will table that. I give Mr Smyth the opportunity to say whether he supports youth homelessness or whether he does not.
I present the following papers:
Election flyer—Tom Sefton, Liberal candidate for Molonglo.
Homelessness—Youth Emergency Accommodation Network Cluster in Chisholm—Flyer.
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