Page 3380 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 18 September 2013
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government. I would suggest to you that if this is meant to be a bit of a wedge on us, it has backfired in your face. And if it is meant to be an attack on the coalition, I would remind you that they just won government convincingly.
I reiterate that we said that we would be supporting Mr Gentleman’s motion. We indeed have a view of standing up for NICTA. Correct me if I am wrong, Mr Smyth, but when was NICTA established?
Mr Smyth: The work started in 2000.
MR HANSON: It started in 2000. That was under the former Liberal government, I believe. NICTA is something that has enjoyed bipartisan support in the ACT for well over a decade, but what we are seeing here is those opposite with their grubby politics trying to bring a wedge. It has backfired.
Mr Barr interjecting—
MR HANSON: The problem is that the government is there saying this. Mr Barr is interjecting. He is saying, “What is your position?” Supporting the motion. We are supporting the motion. Now they want me to do something.
Members interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, just sit down for a second.
MR HANSON: Sure. Can you stop the clocks, please?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Please stop the clocks. Ms Burch, you were very quick to point out the interjections that were coming your way.
Ms Burch: Yes, but you did not—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: We did stop it. I am asking you to also refrain from the constant interjections and let the member speak. Thank you. Mr Hanson, please resume.
MR HANSON: Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. The amendment from Ms Burch is trying to take away from what is, I think, a reasonable motion from Mr Gentleman that we can support—trying to elevate it into the realm of the political wedge, the political slap. That is what she is trying to do.
It is similar to when the former Prime Minister—it was either Rudd or Gillard, and it does become confusing with the Labor Party as to which one it was, but I think it was Gillard—cut the universities. Remember that? Remember the tens of millions of dollars of cuts to our universities here? They were particularly damaging to the ANU and University of Canberra. I cannot remember the Chief Minister putting out a statement of outrage condemning the Prime Minister then. Do you remember such a thing? Anyone here?
Members interjecting—
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