Page 1399 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
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In closing, I would like to acknowledge the work of the union representing the workers in our national cultural institutions, the Community and Public Sector Union. For years the CPSU and its members have been standing up against the unjust cuts to our cultural institutions. In recent years, members have taken protected industrial action in the National Library of Australia against not only these cuts but also against the federal government’s wage suppressing bargaining policy. They have been holding public candlelight vigils as part of their “unenlightened” campaign to draw attention to the importance of Australia’s cultural institutions as well as continuing to lobby the federal government for better outcomes.
It is time for our national cultural institutions to receive fair funding that recognises their critical importance not only to the ACT but also to the whole of Australia. I thank Mr Rattenbury for bringing this to the Assembly today.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (4.15): It has been an interesting discussion this afternoon. These topics always bring out different perspectives on things. I think there have been two elements to it. There is the national institutions element, which I had particularly focus on in my motion. I welcome the fact that members generally reflected on and supported the tremendous status of our national institutions.
Then there is the part of the debate that is just an insult to sensible discussion. Mr Coe and Mr Hanson once again demonstrated just how hyper political they are. They clearly did not listen to my comments. Perhaps even worse, they chose not to listen to my comments or, worse again, chose to wilfully misinterpret them.
I was very clear in my remarks about the War Memorial. I do oppose the $500 million expansion. I do not think that this is a justifiable expenditure. But I was also very clear about the Greens’ support for the role of the War Memorial in remembering, interpreting and understanding our war history. I explicitly used the words, “The Australian War Memorial is sacred ground in the collective psyche of this country.”
I do not think that these comments are about bagging out the War Memorial. But I am capable, unlike some of my colleagues, of having a nuanced discussion about the relative merits of these things and not being so blatantly hyper political as are my colleagues across the chamber.
Typically, also we saw a direct attack on the individual come from my colleagues across the chamber. I would like to assure Mr Hanson that I do go to the national institutions. My actual observation was around the fact that I do not get there as often as I would like to. That is a source of disappointment to me. The fact that I was honest about it—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, enough, thank you.
MR RATTENBURY: The fact that I was honest about it speaks to my naivety. But I do not go to the National Gallery as often as I would like to. I do not go to the War
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