Page 114 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 11 February 2015
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what you have just said. There is no need to just resume where you left off when I have asked you to remain relevant to the motion at hand. Do you have another point of order, Dr Bourke?
DR BOURKE: Yes, Madam Assistant Speaker. The decision-making of the relevant minister is directly relevant to this particular motion. His decision-making as a minister in a previous portfolio establishes a pattern of behaviour and—
Mrs Dunne: Yes, like Joy Burch’s.
DR BOURKE: Before I was interrupted, Madam Assistant Speaker, on my point of order, I am about to—
Mrs Dunne: About the behaviour? How long has it got to go on?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Order!
DR BOURKE: I am about to develop that argument further about the decision-making of this Liberal government.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you, Dr Bourke. Your motion does not talk about the decision-making of the Liberal government. Your motion is directly about the importance of commonwealth public service agencies in Belconnen. I ask you—
Mr Barr: It is about point 1(c), actually.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you. Do you have a point of order, Mr Barr?
Mr Barr: And (2), Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: So please remain on the topic.
DR BOURKE: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I hope that Mr Dutton will make wiser decisions in his new portfolio and quash this money-wasting plan. Moving the department to new premises will cost taxpayers millions in fit-outs and new leases, achieving nothing in return. For all we know, the next portfolio restructure may break up the super department.
A move would also have also major effects on the rest of Canberra. Just imagine the effect on the rest of Canberra of thousands of workers who mostly live in Belconnen or the inner north, or even Gungahlin, suddenly having to commute across Canberra to get to work.
We already know that the Liberals have no transport plan for north Canberra. They certainly have no vision of how to cope with thousands more commuters crossing Northbourne Avenue or travelling along it.
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