Page 1880 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 25 June 2008
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Yes, I am, Mr Speaker. Unlike the Chief Minister, I believe that ministers should make judgements in the interests of the community, and you failed to do so in this case, Chief Minister. You failed residents and you failed the project. Jon Stanhope demonstrated his attitude to the process of the direct grant when he said:
It is not for the government to decide whether an application for a nightclub in a certain site should proceed or not … It is not for the government to decide whether a grog shop is appropriate for a fixed site.
Comparing this project to a nightclub or a grog shop demonstrates the Chief Minister’s disdain for the community and his lack of understanding of the significance of this project. This was a $2 billion project and the government had a responsibility to get it right.
The motion of no confidence is a serious step. It would have been irresponsible of the opposition not to move this motion after the stuff-ups by the Stanhope government that have put this project at risk and caused so much concern in the community. The series of contradictory statements in the Assembly show a deliberate and careless attempt to mislead the parliament. It is incumbent on ministers to tell the truth to parliament. Parliaments cannot command information from government; they can only request it. In a parliamentary democracy we place huge store in the assumption that ministers will tell the truth when they are asked questions in parliament. Mr Stanhope has shown by his actions that he is unfit for the responsibilities of ministerial office. I ask all MLAs, and particularly Labor MLAs, to look to their conscience and do the right thing in the vote on this motion.
Although this motion may fail, it is not futile. It is the responsibility of the opposition to call the government to account when they hold the people and the processes of the territory in contempt. The government have done precisely that. Each of the matters in this motion is proven. It is beyond question that this project was mismanaged and jeopardised. A wilful failure to recognise that fact by the government compounds ineptitude with ignorance.
That the Chief Minister has selectively released materials, or withheld relevant materials, is beyond doubt. We can see that in the 3,030 censored documents and the last-minute revelation of the Hume study. That he failed to properly consider the impact on residents is manifest. The anger and engagement of residents should sound a warning that this Assembly ignores the people at its peril.
When he was caught doing all of this by the people and my party, he tried to re-invent the record, misdirect attention and put blame on others. Unfortunately for him, he could not spin a consistent cover story. He not only made statements that contradicted the documentary paper trail, but also he contradicted himself numerous times in his own testimony.
His pattern of behaviour tells us how he will continue to treat this Assembly and this territory in the future. His actions tell us that this is a man who is no longer in touch with the community, who is no longer able to meet standards of accountability and who can no longer be trusted with the responsibility of a ministry.
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