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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (20 August) . . Page.. 2979 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Mr Corbell's amendment, because all it says is, "Steady as you go. Things are okay. She'll be right mate."That attitude will not solve the aged care crisis in the ACT.

MRS CROSS (6.19): I want to thank you, Mr Speaker, for suggesting that I wait until the amendments were circulated, because you were absolutely right. I want to commend Mr Cornwell for his motion, which I will support. It is always interesting to me that, when people come up with different good ideas, whether in the form of bills, motions, MPIs or whatever, all of a sudden people have all sorts of different amendments to put forward that did not come up with the original idea. They have different additions and subtractions, or they do not like this or that.

There is nothing wrong with that because it is our right as members of this place to make our contribution, but I would have thought that the older person's needs, in this city and in fact in any city in Australia, have been on the agenda for such a long time that you would not have to think very long and hard about what you felt was important.

I commend Mr Cornwell for bringing this into the chamber because it is an area that has been somewhat neglected. I know from my conversations with Mr Cornwell, and from having watched him with the senior citizens in this community, that he actually does an outstanding job. I commend him for that.

I am concerned about a few things. I look up to the members of this place for inspiration at times and to set a good example. I look to you, Mr Speaker, because you carry out your duties in a dignified way. It concerns me that there are some members in this place who find it very difficult to show diplomacy, graciousness or a willingness to support initiatives that are instigated in this place but that did not come from them. This manifests itself in a very nasty, spiteful and unstatesmanlike way. That is very disappointing for a new member such as me.

It is also a pity that some members in this place do not heed the advice of their parents, particularly about respecting their elders. I know some people have a problem with age discrimination and, yes, it has its place, but I truly believe that those who have been around longer and have experience deserve to be respected. I think probably the youngest member in this place truly behaves in a much more professional way than some of those a few years older than her.

Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: if Mrs Cross has a problem with my behaviour, she should have the guts at least to name me, rather than making some assertion about members being a little bit older than Ms Dundas and so on. Talking about cowardly and spiteful behaviour, Mr Speaker, I think that is quite unparliamentary.

MR SPEAKER: Order! That is entering the debate, Mr Corbell. I do not think you have a point of order.

MRS CROSS: One of the most important elements in the debate on general aged care in this city is the need for choice in accommodation. Unfortunately, this issue of choice is not even mentioned by most people who are engaging in the talkfests.

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