Page 580 - Week 02 - Thursday, 19 February 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
that have accepted those awards”—the Angus Houstons, the Peter Cosgroves, the Marie Bashirs and the Quentin Bryces—“Let’s trash their reputation. Let’s trash the fact that they accepted their awards and say that knights and dames have no place in modern Australia.”
Mr Barr has not made clear—and I invite him to do so—his intent to strip them of their awards. Is that what he is calling for? In his press release he says that these Australians can still be appropriately recognised under the pre-existing system. I would invite Mr Barr to make it clear if that is what he is intending to do, that those awards should be stripped. Is that what he is calling for today? He is not indicating one way or the other. I would invite him to do so. Is that what he is saying today to our community? Whether you agree with it or not, a number of very eminent Australians have been presented with an award, which they have accepted, and it seems from what is happening today that Mr Barr—and he can clarify it—is saying, “Let’s strip them of those awards.” There is no response from those opposite.
Mr Barr: We will respond in the debate.
MR HANSON: You will respond in a minute.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, I believe the—
Mr Barr: Do you support knights and dames?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr!
Mr Barr: What’s your position?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr! Those members on the government benches will have an opportunity to respond to your question when it is appropriate, not in the middle of your presentation, thank you, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: I think we can see this motion for what it is. Observers in the media have titled it as an attempt for a wedge, an attempt to play university politics, an attempt to conflate a federal issue in the ACT. It must be pretty demoralising that you are not able to present enough of your own agenda or indeed a critique of the local opposition that you have to try and look for things outside this jurisdiction. I take it as a bit of a feather in the cap, to be honest, for my team that, rather than trying to critique anything that we have done locally, as I was trying to get to earlier, Madam Deputy Speaker—
Members interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members!
MR HANSON: we have been in this place advocating for the people of Canberra on important social issues.
Mr Barr: Where do you stand on knights and dames?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video