Page 3003 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 15 August 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
will have a negative impact right here in Canberra. I think it is important to reflect on this in light of the comments that Mr Coe just made.
I came down here anticipating that Mr Coe would give a speech not unlike the one he just gave. It is the stock standard response that we get to these sorts of motions when members bring them to this place. Aside from the fact that Mr Coe took his usual strategy of seeking to belittle those in the debate that he disagrees with and go down the ridicule path, I was disappointed that he did not have the courage to state the position that he took at the federal council meeting. Every day we come in here for question time. We have to stand up and answer to decisions we have taken and to positions we have taken. But Mr Coe was invited and could not offer a position.
Mr Coe: We will start asking you about the Greens management committee then, shall we?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Mr Coe.
Mr Gentleman: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think I have got this under control, Mr Gentleman. I am across it. Mr Coe, can you not interject.
MR RATTENBURY: While it cannot be denied—
Mr Coe: We could ask you how you dealt with misconduct allegations, perhaps.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Coe.
MR RATTENBURY: Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr Coe is on a warning from question time today.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is not my warning, Mr Rattenbury.
MR RATTENBURY: That is a new, interesting interpretation. It cannot be denied that these cuts—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: You might like to be on a warning as well.
MR RATTENBURY: What cannot be denied is that these cuts have impacted and will continue to impact on Canberra. They impact on Canberrans that we represent and their ability to view local programming and receive local news. They even impact on the political discourse in our city as we face an inevitable decrease in the amount of local political reporting and political scrutiny. All members in this chamber should lament this decline and should stand up and oppose these cuts.
An example of the way local reporting has changed is that the regular news bulletins on ABC radio Canberra have been reduced from 10 minutes to five minutes. For Canberra this means there is less room for local news in these bulletins. Unfortunately,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video