Page 1892 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
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Mr Hanson: I think it was Brendan; that’s why he joined you.
MR BARR: I think Mrs Dunne might have as well. She may have even said it in this place, on the public record. She certainly said those things in 2004, and those who are interested should go back and have a read. It is a striking insight into Mrs Dunne’s views at that point in time. She may have changed them. She might express herself differently now. Who knows? Time will tell.
Tonight we will not be supporting this political stunt. Minister Berry has done the right thing and apologised. She has clearly expressed the point she was trying to make. She has tabled a significant amount of information that reflects the policy position she has been putting for some time now. Really, at 6.30 on a Thursday night this is nothing more than a stunt.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (6.27): Clearly the words used by the education minister are deeply regrettable. She should not have used those words. She has been very clear about that, and the minister has apologised. From the Greens’ point of view—Ms Le Couteur and I have discussed this—we have no doubt that if the minister had her time again she would choose a different set of words. I share the Chief Minister’s view that each of us at some point in our lives has said something in a way we wish we had not. I have no doubt that the education minister feels the same way.
I know the minister’s views on our education system and the importance of supporting all students, particularly her views on supporting our most vulnerable students. I have seen her make the arguments in cabinet about the need to resource adequately—in fact, you could almost say more than adequately—those students who need extra help to make sure they get the assistance they need. I have no doubt about where the education minister comes from on these matters. I accept her comments that she expressed herself in a way she regrets. We are happy to accept that and consider that to be the end of this matter.
I reflected on the comments made by Mr Hanson about being thankful that the young man he was talking about was unaware of the comments, because if he had been aware it would have caused more distress. That did not stop the Liberal Party from recirculating those comments all over social media. They really worked hard to make sure people who missed it on TV and might not have been aware of it were made aware of it. Before they come in here and get all sanctimonious about it, it would be worth reflecting on their conduct—they certainly tried to make sure that anyone who had missed it did catch it, and that did not help the situation. We will not be supporting the censure motion. We think the clear apology made by the minister brings the matter to an end.
At 6.30 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (6.30), in reply: I thank those who contributed to this debate. At least everyone expressed that it was the wrong thing to
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