Page 676 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2018
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important role journalists in all forms of media play in our democracy and its commitment to an inclusive Canberra that takes account of all of the perspectives out there.
That does not mean everybody has to agree all the time, and one of the most challenging things in this place is that you cannot always bring forward policy ideas or solutions that will suit everybody all of the time. There will be contested ideas, but there is a difference between having contested ideas versus not hearing all of the opinions. As a minister I find it very challenging that you talk to all sorts of people in the community and you get many different perspectives and you then have to try to hone those down to one suitable pathway forward. I know you cannot always find a pathway that everybody is happy with, so we need to find that balance between having that broad and inclusive conversation and being able to go forward with new directions and new ideas.
I commend my amendment to the Assembly. I think it reflects the true state of the debate in this place. Therefore, I move:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes with concern the comments made by the Chief Minister regarding communications strategy and the role of media;
(2) further notes the apology offered by the Chief Minister in both the media and in the Assembly;
(3) further affirms its support for the freedom of the press and the important role that journalists and all forms of media play in our democracy; and
(4) also affirms its commitment to an inclusive Canberra that respects all members of the community, across all age groups, racial and religious groups, and the different perspectives members of our community hold.”.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (10.48): Ordinarily I would rise and say I was pleased to speak to a motion put forward by my colleague Mr Coe, but today I am not pleased. In fact, I am really disappointed that we have had to bring on this motion to highlight the appalling statements made by the Chief Minister. As the shadow minister for seniors, I was actually shocked by the comments made by the Chief Minister when he made clear his opinion of those who read, watch or seek their news from the traditional news media and that a large portion of those are seniors. Under this government, seniors are not just being ignored; they are systematically targeted.
Currently there are 68,193 people in the ACT over the age of 60, and this is only going to increase with the baby boomer generation ageing. Over the next 40 years the number of seniors will double. The Chief Minister last week made it very clear how he feels about seniors, how he feels about their opinions and how he wants to live in a place where as soon as you become a senior you leave town—or perhaps something even darker or more permanent happens—or, at the very least, if you remain, the government no longer has any requirement to consult or engage with you.
What the Chief Minister actually said was that the average age of the viewership of the ABC news in the evening, the 7 pm bulletin, is mid-60s, that the Canberra Times
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