Page 1172 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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Now ACT public school teachers when this goes ahead will be the best qualified in the country, will they be the best teacher in the country—well we don’t know that yet, but we do know they will be the best qualified in the country and that’s an ambition we support.
I would like to go on but I am sure I will be cut off in the next 10 seconds. This is clearly a state that invests in education across the sector. All the statistics that we can bring to this place show that we perform well, that suspensions are decreasing and that our families are involved. (Time expired.)
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (11.59): I rise this morning to support the amendment, but I will not be supporting Mr Hanson’s original motion. However, it was really interesting to hear Mr Hanson’s opening speech. He said that he is in power because of the people that put him here. I would remind the Assembly that while he has been elected, the Canberra Liberals are not in power. Why is that the case? It is because Canberrans know what it is like to have the Liberals in power.
It was also interesting to hear that he reflected on Mr Howard and Mr Menzies. Mr Menzies, of course, was the Liberal prime minister that introduced conscription and who also sent our troops to Vietnam. I can remember the demonstrations here in Canberra very clearly. Mr Howard, of course, was the one that brought Canberra into a recession. He sacked 24,000 public servants—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, you are going to have ample opportunity very shortly to be able to respond to the various comments that members have made when they have been on their feet. I ask you to respect that and to listen to Mr Gentleman in silence. Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I reiterate: John Howard sacked 24,000 public servants and brought the ACT into recession. It is the first time—
Mr Wall interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please. Sit down, Mr Gentleman. Mr Wall, I have just finished asking that members respect the fact that Mr Gentleman is on his feet. Allow him to speak without interruption. As soon as he started to talk again, you interrupted. I do not want to have to warn people.
As Madam Speaker said yesterday, we do not want to have to continually warn people, hopefully, but in the very short time I have got left in this chair I might have to. Mr Gentleman, you may continue. You may want to reiterate your points again.
MR GENTLEMAN: I will reiterate. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. John Howard sacked 24,000 public servants and brought the ACT into recession. Under the Liberals, house price in Canberra dropped for the first time in decades. It was an incredibly difficult time. I remember it well.
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