Page 1711 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 May 2013
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Ms Burch interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Ms Burch! You were heard in silence.
MR HANSON: It is disappointing that although the current minister is making a lot of noise, we do not have the last minister here, Madam Speaker. If you remember, we had Dr Bourke’s grasp of what is going on with Gonski, the essence of Gonski. It is a shame that Dr Bourke’s involvement with Gonski seemed to have got him sacked. Where is he today? Where is Dr Bourke, the man that stood here and proclaimed a great knowledge of Gonski, the essence of Gonski? He has been sacked by the Chief Minister so she could bring a Green on to her frontbench.
No doubt, Dr Bourke is a little bit embarrassed today as someone that was championing Gonski in this place. He was going to various COAG meetings and no doubt talking about Gonski. He has been sacked so that someone else from another party can take his position. It is just worth alluding to—
Mr Rattenbury: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order.
Mr HANSON: I have no doubt you are sensitive about it, Shane.
Mr Rattenbury: I would ask you to rule on the relevance of Mr Hanson’s current text. He is simply in here, frankly, personally denigrating Dr Bourke. I am unclear how that is relevant to the motion that Mr Doszpot put forward. If Mr Hanson wants to make a personal attack on Dr Bourke, he should move a motion to that effect.
MADAM SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please.
MR HANSON: On the point of order, the debate was focused around the complexity of Gonski, myriad issues including engagement with other state and federal jurisdictions. I am making the point that we had a minister who was involved, who was passionate about it, who talked about Gonski a lot in this chamber. I am making the point that that minister was sacked simply to make room for a Green in the cabinet. I am asking whether that really demonstrates a true commitment by this government to Gonski reforms. I think that that is relevant to the debate, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: I think that all of the issues that Mr Hanson raised were directly relevant. There was substantial mention of Gonski in the comments that he made. I do advise the member to be very careful not to reflect personally on the character of members of this place. I think that the point has probably already been made and that the member might move on to other points that he might like to make in relation to Gonski.
MR HANSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I note Mr Rattenbury’s sensitivity about this issue, and rightly so. But let me—
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