Page 1144 - Week 03 - Thursday, 26 February 2009

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My own association with Les goes back to 1983, when I and the company I worked for at the time became one of the very first corporate sponsors of the Canberra Raiders. That was back when the team was only fledgling and the salaries of the players were a fraction of what they are now. As Les said in an interview on an ABC Stateline program in 2006, the NRL were worried about the distance the Sydney teams had to travel to get to Canberra. Now they do not blink about regularly heading interstate—Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney—and to New Zealand as well as coming here to Canberra. What a long way we have come thanks to the foresight of men such as Les McIntyre.

We are all very thankful for the contribution of both men to our community, and our deepest sympathy goes to the families of David Balfour and Les McIntyre.

Legislative Assembly—members

MS BURCH (Brindabella) (5.51): I rise in this adjournment debate to cover a number of things. Mr Doszpot, you made mention of two funerals that you attended and that this Assembly recognised this week. Recognition was due. They were two important fellows and tragic circumstances. I have a level of dismay that on this day Mr Coe comes into this Assembly and pays total disrespect to a matter of public importance on cemeteries and notions that are important. It is a matter that comes to us all. Even Mr Coe’s family will one day need to consider arrangements that involve cemeteries, crematoriums and the like. I echo and repeat a level of concern at the disrespect displayed by Mr Coe today.

Another matter was raised by Mr Seselja. He threw a line across the ambitions of our frontbench, our solid government frontbench. My only suggestion to him is to look closer to home. At the weekend I saw two of those that sit in the front having a quiet conversation in Tuggeranong Valley.

Mr Coe and Mr Seselja made comment about the integrity of what is commented on in the media—statements they make and to be upright and true in those statements. I remind Mr Coe that some statements he recently made in the media were unfounded, untrue and indeed totally nonsense. Thank you.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.53 pm until Tuesday, 24 March 2009, at 10 am.


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