Page 3918 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 October 2005
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this place. We had enough trouble with the pairs last time, but the job is not so onerous as to require an allowance of $10,000. The management of this precinct and assistance to the Speaker in doing so, in my view, is the major reason that we should support such a thing.
I understand that Mr Smyth will have something to say about this motion later. I sincerely trust that he has reviewed his decision. If he has not, a further submission to the remuneration tribunal may very well be warranted. I certainly would be supporting such a submission.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (11.03): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to move the amendment circulated in my name.
Leave granted
MR SMYTH: I move:
Omit “Mr Seselja”, substitute “Mrs Burke”.
The amendment actually does what Mr Hargreaves has just suggested. Mr Hargreaves pointed out a few things to me on Tuesday after I had moved the motion and, having reviewed the decision, we will now recombine the positions.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (11.04): This is an interesting turn of events from the opposition. I am, in many respects, grateful that the opposition has heeded the issues that have been raised by my colleague Mr Hargreaves, in that the role of the opposition whip includes a level of payment as determined by the remuneration tribunal which reflects the role that the whip plays in the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure. So, in many respects, this move is to be welcomed.
But I think Mr Smyth is being a little disingenuous if he suggests that the reason he is doing this is that these matters have been brought to his attention by Mr Hargreaves in the last 30 seconds. I think there might be some other dynamics at play in the Liberal Party. In particular, it is very interesting because as of Monday this week we understood that the order was given by the leader that Mr Seselja would be the manager of opposition business and Mrs Burke would be on the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure and that that was to be the end of it—these were not options; these were not things that were to be negotiated; this was the leader’s decision.
Mr Hargreaves: Decisive leadership.
MR CORBELL: Indeed, Mr Hargreaves: decisive leadership on the part of Mr Smyth. What has happened to change Mr Smyth’s mind in the past two or three hours? I doubt it is the wise counsel of my colleague Mr Hargreaves.
Mr Hargreaves: Thanks very much.
MR CORBELL: Wise it is, Mr Hargreaves, but I doubt it is your wise counsel. I think it might have more to do with some members of the Liberal Party being prepared to
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