Page 1169 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
If an elderly couple lives in fear of limbs falling on them from ageing trees or have what should be their peaceful years ruined by the constant drop of nuts falling on their roof from older trees then flexibility should be applied to their applications to have trees pruned. If a green solution is a top priority, there should be an option for them to replace an old tree with a new tree in another location, or even two new trees. The mental health of Canberrans suffering because of ageing trees should be a high priority for this government.
Need I raise the Narrabundah tyre slasher? Residents of Narrabundah should be served by a police minister who is there to protect them from such harassment and intimidation, exerted upon them over decades. More can be done. More should be done.
On education, I am a big supporter of parents’ choice. I support parents being free to instil their values into the next generation. I believe the Canberra Liberals respect that right as a higher right than the right to force popular political ideology onto children. It is very important to me, and to many who have supported me in this place.
I support this motion. Far from theories or platitudes, it is a blueprint for a Liberal government for Canberra and it will serve Canberra well. I commend Jeremy for his statements last week, for his motion today and for the service he does to our community as a warrior for another kind of government for our city.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Women, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (11.49): Can I say at the start that we will not be supporting Mr Hanson’s motion.
Mr Hanson: That is why you have moved an amendment, minister.
MS BURCH: And a solid, sound amendment it is too. This motion reminds me of this quote made earlier this year:
Oppositions complain: governments decide. It’s much easier to complain than it is to decide.
I think that quote resonates very succinctly and represents the tone of Mr Hanson’s motion. Governments decide, and that is what we are doing. We are getting on with the business of making this city better, to improve the lives of ACT residents and to ensure that we leave this place better than we found it.
It was interesting that Mr Hanson started his comments by referring to Menzies. I am surprised he made that reference to Menzies. The Canberra Liberals hold Mr Menzies in such high regard that not one of them attended the unveiling of the statue of Menzies that this government commissioned. It was on purely ideological grounds that they did not attend, as they oppose all public art. Their obsession with opposition to public art was too great for them to even tip their hat to Menzies. I find it quite extraordinary that they hold him in such high regard that it is a matter of, “Please don’t let me be found standing next to a statue.”
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video