Page 3264 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019
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MS BERRY: On the second part of Mrs Dunne’s question, that is not the advice I have. It is still a proposal. Yes, the directorate is helping with the consultation with the community, but there is a proposal, which everybody is clear about. There has been correspondence to my office about this matter. I understand that there are people who are concerned about a fence around the oval. I am very happy to hear, and encourage people to continue to provide, feedback on the proposed fence.
But at this stage it is just a proposed fence, for a couple of reasons. One is to ensure the safety of the students and staff at the Miles Franklin school. It is also to prevent damage and vandalism that could occur at that school. They are very good reasons. At the end of the day it will be the school community that needs to agree and have the support of the community to have a fence constructed there or on the oval, although it is less likely that the oval will be accepted by the community, judging from the correspondence that I have received and from what I understand the community are saying. So this is not an issue that needs to be used to divide the community. It is a chance—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, please.
Mrs Dunne: They are not divided; they are unanimous.
MS BERRY: That is okay because it is just a proposal at the moment. The most mature way for everybody in this place to approach this matter is to encourage people in the community to provide their feedback in a respectful way—
Mr Wall: But you never listen. The government seldom listens.
MS BERRY: Madam Speaker, to suggest that I do not listen to members of the community about issues—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members!
MS BERRY: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker, on the behaviour of those opposite towards ministers who are trying to give honest answers to issues that are affecting our communities jointly—Mrs Dunne’s community in her suburb, I might add. It is an opportunity to bring people together, yet all they can do is sit here and make fun of me because I am actually taking this issue seriously, making sure that people have the chance to provide their feedback, providing information about how they can do it; that is what this place is supposed to be about: openness and transparency in governance.
MADAM SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat, please.
Mr Hanson: That is not a point of order; that is a rant.
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