Page 587 - Week 02 - Thursday, 19 February 2015
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brought forward. I am able to respect those I disagree with; you can have a decent discussion. But what I find abhorrent and struggle to respect is those people who cannot take a stance on an issue and do not have the courage to state their position.
It is difficult sometimes; members yesterday sought to explore the fact that I had expressed a controversial view about a sponsorship matter. At least I was able to express my views and put them on the table, even if they are not popular or if perhaps some people do not share them. I like to think people respect the fact I am willing to put those views even if it leads to criticism from some quarters. Those who will not even express a view simply lack courage, and that is something I have taken from today’s discussion.
As I said, I am happy to support Mr Barr’s motion. I think it is important that this Assembly states this, because we know Canberrans have engaged in this issue. They have views on it, and most Canberrans are quite surprised and disappointed to see this backward step. It is right for this Assembly to make a statement on this matter.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Disability, Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for the Arts) (11.49): I rise to support the Chief Minister on this motion. I will be brief and I will base my comments on extracts from the press of that day. I will start with a comment in the Sydney Morning Herald by Andrew Bolt, under the heading “Andrew Bolt attacks Tony Abbott over ‘pathetically stupid’ Prince Philip knighthood”, which says:
Tony Abbott continues to take friendly fire over the Prince Philip knighthood, with conservative commentator Andrew Bolt declaring the decision as “pathetically stupid” …
He went on to say:
… the decision to honour Prince Philip on Australia Day was “friendless” and one that made Mr Abbott’s own allies look stupid if they tried to defend it.
He then went on to say:
I defy anyone to put to me a case that says Prince Philip should be made a knight of Australia above all the other choices that would [have been] in front of Tony Abbott when he went to sit down behind his desk. It is just inconceivable.
Then there were other comments from, I believe, the Age on 26 January this year. Under the banner “Knighthood for Prince Philip: MPs question Abbott’s judgment” the paper said:
Liberals contacted on Monday questioned Mr Abbott’s political judgment in making Prince Philip … a knight in the Order of Australia.
They said the pre-dawn press release from Mr Abbott’s office was a bombshell which had taken MPs entirely by surprise and had been “near impossible” to explain to voters.
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