Page 4363 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 30 November 1994
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Mr De Domenico: What about Terry Higgins?
MR LAMONT: I am sorry; the chair is not responsible for the granting of public moneys, you fool.
Mr De Domenico: Is Justice Higgins incapable?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, order!
Mr Stefaniak: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Mr Lamont has used the word "fool" against Mr De Domenico. That would clearly come within standing order 54 as being quite offensive.
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I concur, and I withdraw any accusation that Mr De Domenico may be a fool.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Lamont.
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I have said quite clearly that, upon the presentation of satisfactory evidence that the day-to-day administration, under the responsibility of their full-time officer, is satisfactory and that the program they are suggesting that they can carry out and for which they are seeking funding can, in fact, be carried out, I will reconsider the position favourably. I have indicated that to them. I find it somewhat strange that, as we are going through that process to allow me to ensure that the public interest is protected and to discharge my ministerial responsibility in the public interest in an appropriate fashion, Mr McGibbon would go to Mr De Domenico's office last night to have Mr De Domenico and Mr Stefaniak organise a stunt for this morning. I will tell you now that I will not be bullied by Mr De Domenico, by Mr Stefaniak or, indeed, by the full-time officer of the Royal Life Saving Society. I will not be bullied by you, Mr De Domenico, as you have tried to do by running the stunt this morning.
I have clearly indicated to the people of the ACT that, if the Royal Life Saving Society is unable to satisfy the reasonable requirements for the receipt of this grant, I will ensure that those services that it has allegedly provided in the past will be provided in those areas in the coming summer months. I say "allegedly", Madam Speaker. One of the concerns that have been raised by officers of my department is that there may be some doubt as to whether or not the claims made about attendances in previous years are accurate. All I need to do is to satisfy myself in the granting of that application - and I think we are talking about something in the order of $28,000 - that all of the activities that are being proposed or that have been claimed will be undertaken or have been undertaken. That is an appropriate thing for me to do to discharge my responsibility as the custodian of public moneys. Mr De Domenico, I intend to do that. It now appears that you do not.
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