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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 11 Hansard (30 November) . . Page.. 3586 ..
MR STEFANIAK (continuing):
Finally, I remind Mr Berry that it takes at least 12 months to build a pool, and the next election is in 101/2 months.
MR HARGREAVES (5.46): I would not normally rise in this place to criticise another member on a non-policy issue. Normally, I leave my remarks, as cutting as I can make them, to policy issues. However, this time I want to make an exception. I want to add my voice of support to Mr Athol Williams and to make a couple of comments about the scurrilous attack on him in the newspaper the other day. It was totally unwarranted.
Athol Williams was a quiet achiever in his community when his detractor was 11 years old. His record speaks for itself. As my leader, Mr Stanhope, said, Athol Williams was a founding member of the Kambah Residents Association, a forerunner of the Tuggeranong Community Council, which is about as connected with the community as you will get.
Mr Williams' CV is very impressive. He is not merely a paperboy or a glorified shop assistant, which his detractor is, I am afraid. Mr Williams is well known within the circles in which he moves as being an adherent of the truth. The same can not be said for his detractor. Mr Williams is definitely fit to represent Labor. He personifies all that is Labor. It is about compassion, and Mr Williams has compassion in abundance.
Mr Williams' detractor cannot be trusted. Let me tell an anecdote. Whilst I was campaign manager for a person who was subsequently elected to the federal parliament, I had a handshake agreement with the Deputy Chief Minister that there would be no personal attacks in the course of the campaign. One week later the personal campaign came out. It was straight from the Lynton Crosby school of gutter politics. It was just not on.
This minister is not fit to stand in Mr Williams' shadow. The word "gutless" was used earlier on, and I have to say it is right. This is the same Deputy Chief Minister who runs out and gets as much publicity as he can on positive issues, but when it comes to bad news or when he is criticised he hides behind mummy's skirts and his spokeswoman has to make the responses. I am absolutely fed up with this sort of gutter politics.
Mr Smyth, the Deputy Chief Minister, ought to stand up in this place and apologise to Mr Williams. His behaviour is appalling. If he wants to have a go at us, he can do so. That is why we are here. Mr Williams is twice the man Mr Smyth is. Mr Smyth ought to apologise forthwith.
MR OSBORNE
(5.48): I make a couple of observations. I too saw Mr Smyth's press release. I do not know Athol Williams. I have met him once. If that was the first shot fired in the election campaign, I think it was a regrettable one. I hope that both major parties and their candidates have a good look at themselves and not descend into that type of politicking. It was most unfortunate on the part of the minister and very disappointing. I am encouraged by what Mr Stanhope has had to say, and what he said in
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