Page 5003 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
It must be said that because a specific place name causes pain to a very small number of people it should not mean that we are compelled to change it. Ms Cody’s motion is vague in that it calls upon the government to “request that the Place Names Committee review particular non-residential place names that have been the subject of significant disquiet, such as William Slim Drive and Haig Park”. “Such as”, but what are the other ones? The motion needed to identify definitively which other place names have been the subject of significant disquiet. What is the actual definition of “significant disquiet”? Does that mean that two or more hairdressing clients mentioned it in the salon? What is “significant disquiet”?
Ms Cheyne: That is insulting.
MR PARTON: Excuse me?
Ms Cheyne: That is insulting.
MR PARTON: I am referring to the Radio National interview that Ms Cody did where she said that she received feedback on this as a hairdresser. It certainly was not meant as a disparaging comment; I am referring to her Radio National interview.
Under Ms Cody’s original vision, we would all be much better off just adopting a number-based street naming and a number-based suburb system. “Where do you live?” “I live on the corner of Sixth Avenue and 21st Street in Sector 48,” and then no-one gets hurt. Everyone is happy.
We understand that Labor and the Greens wish to disinfect Canberra of all possible harm. We understand that Labor and the Greens wish to cleanse us of greyhound racing, cleanse us of poker machines, cleanse us of gender-specific traffic lights, cleanse us of chocolates being sold in government offices, cleanse families of backyards, and cleanse us of car parks. We understand that Labor and the Greens want to create a warm and cuddly, fluffy space in which nobody can suffer any form of harm from anything. But we on this side of the chamber also understand that that is ideological utopia. It is a left-wing fantasy, and it is just not practical. The Canberra Liberals will not be supporting this motion.
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (5.03): I will speak relatively briefly. I was not intending to, because Mr Parton has eloquently responded to the nonsense that is this motion. But Ms Cody said a number of things which I think deserve a response. She talked about Gallipoli generals “hoarding” people to their death, and calling them war criminals.
Ms Cody: Sorry, I have been misquoted.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sit down, Ms Cody. There are opportunities for you to do deal with that, and that is not it.
MR HANSON: Clearly, that is how I heard it. If she wants to make a correction when she is responding at the end of the debate, she may, but that is certainly as I heard it.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video