Page 1185 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2009

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unnamed person, and it did not come as a request from the community at large. With respect to the Wanniassa Hills primary school, it was a collective of people who lobbied for it. But it was not the community at large saying, “We want this to happen.” So I fear that when this plan is brought forward, notwithstanding its endorsement by the Assembly, we will still be missing that 10 per cent of ownership and commitment. I think that is a bit of a shame.

I do understand the workload of the committee. As I said, I was a deputy chair of it for three years. I was on it for longer than that, but that three years is my memory, and I know how difficult it is with variations. It is a bit like the scrutiny of bills committee—you have got so much else to do besides just inquiries. But it is true to say that inquiries such as this, which are largely technical in nature, can actually run concurrently with something else. Indeed, the information that would be forthcoming would probably in the main be provided by the department anyway. The research could easily be provided by the department anyway.

Mr Coe: So why is it going to a committee, John?

Mr Seselja: Sounds like you’re speaking in favour.

MR HARGREAVES: They are unbelievable, aren’t they? Mr Coe, who has only had his licence for three weeks, has the temerity to come up and talk to me about road safety. I just think it is amazing. Come back and talk to me when you are off your Ps, Mr Coe. That would be good. When you have graduated from bicycle to motor car, you can come and talk about it.

I support the initiative very, very significantly. However, I suppose I want both—I want to have my cake and eat it too. because I want to see the community have the ownership and the result. I might say that when it comes back and the Assembly considers it, you might like to think about how we could actually achieve that. I know it was a difficulty when I was the minister. Thank you very much; I support everybody’s intentions.

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Minister for the Arts and Heritage) (12.02): I thank members for their contributions to the debate. I am surprised that nobody in the Liberal Party or the Greens wants to be a part of this very important inquiry. I think it just reinforces the perception that we have that most of the members here are here for a good time, not necessarily a long time, and they are not particularly interested in working. I might just say, when listening to Mr Coe, I was for some reason reminded of our dearly departed friend, Mr Pratt. I think we have lost Pratt by name and gained a prat by nature. But you would excuse me perhaps for—

Mr Seselja: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I think that is offensive, and I would ask the Chief Minister to withdraw.

MR STANHOPE: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, I do not think that is unparliamentary. It might be unkind, completely unnecessary and gratuitously offensive, but I do not think it is unparliamentary.


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