Page 4892 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 November 2017
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are met. Unions have an important role to play, and Mrs Jones knows that. If the Liberal Party think that this is corruption then the challenge for them is to walk outside this room, make that claim without the benefit of parliamentary privilege, and back it up.
Despite this pretty lame motion here today from the opposition, the government’s offer remains: if you ever decide that you truly want to pursue the opportunities that are before our city, the city that this side of the chamber talks up at every opportunity we get, you can join our team. It would not be so hard but you are just going to have to grow up. This motion is without maturity, foundation or any respect for the Assembly, and it should be voted down as such.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.15): This motion of no confidence in the Chief Minister has come about today because of the corruption of decision-making processes by this Labor government. Under this Labor government Canberra has become the corrupt capital.
It is my understanding that since self-government there have been only nine motions of no confidence in a Chief Minister, so it is not something taken lightly. It is not a political stunt; it is a decision taken after a lot of consideration. I ask every member here to think carefully about what we are discussing today. You all probably remember the quote “Evil flourishes when good men and women do nothing”. This is your opportunity to reflect on that.
I believe that this Labor government have conducted themselves in many ways that have not shown integrity and have eroded trust. It is not just us saying this. I reflect on the Auditor-General’s report. The Auditor-General was scathing of this government in her review of the LDA’s purchase of certain blocks. The Auditor-General was so alarmed about how the LDA and this Labor government have conducted themselves that she is now undertaking two further investigations into rural land acquisitions and Dickson land deals, and that is only two inquiries that we know of.
My colleague Mr Coe has previously gone through six areas where this Labor government have shown clear evidence of corruption: first, the government’s paying $4 million for a block of land next to the casino, despite a valuation saying it was worth $1 million; second, the ACT government buying the CFMEU headquarters in Dickson for $4 million, then allowing the CFMEU to rent it back for $1 per year, payable on demand; third, the Labor Party’s indirect ownership of around 500 poker machines; fourth, the Labor Party not paying a dollar in change of use charges for their Braddon apartment development; fifth, unions being given veto powers on ACT government contracts; and sixth, the government signing a deal to give parking revenue to the Woden Tradies, and the very favourable terms of that deal.
Those are six separate issues and six connections with an ACT Labor government giving favours to itself or its mates. Members here will remember that when the public accounts committee was trying to set up an inquiry into the LDA dealings and certain land purchases, Mr Pettersson attempted to delay it. He attempted to set up another committee to probe into allegations that Mrs Dunne overstretched when providing information to the media. The committee had already decided that that did
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