Page 2580 - Week 07 - Thursday, 18 June 2009

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Mr Stanhope: What were you doing behind those closed blinds the other day?

MS GALLAGHER: At the right point in time, the proposed sale of Calvary—

Mr Stanhope: Were you doing it by yourself?

MS GALLAGHER: I will just finish, Mr Speaker. For your benefit and mine, at the right point in time the community will have a say on this. You will have a say on it. We cannot wait for the Liberals to have a view on something.

Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I would like you to ask the Chief Minister to withdraw the comments that he made about what went on behind closed blinds. They were inappropriate and unparliamentary.

Mr Stanhope: Mr Speaker, on that point of order, I interjected—one interjection in about 500 that have been going on over the last half hour—and my interjection was innocent: “What were you doing behind those closed blinds? Were you on Facebook?” and then I asked, “Were you doing it by yourself?” What else could I have—

Mr Coe: You’re disgusting.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Opposition members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary question?

MR DOSZPOT: Minister, why is it satisfactory to consult the community on cuts to the budget but not on budget spending?

MS GALLAGHER: The proposal to purchase Calvary Public Hospital will come to the Assembly. I am actually consulting with various stakeholders as we speak. Indeed, I have done so this morning with a group of stakeholders. I will continue to do my job, and the Assembly will do theirs at the appropriate point in time. Everything will be transparent about this. There are no secret deals. There are no conspiracies. There is opportunity for everybody to get involved if they want to. But, as we have come to expect, we presume we will not be getting anything from the opposition other than criticisms and cries from the sideline—unless, of course, they surprise everybody and participate in the debate in a genuine and helpful manner.

Green economy

MS PORTER: My question is to the Chief Minister. Can the minister advise the Assembly what the government is doing to ensure that the ACT is able to position itself as the leader in the green economy into the future?

MR STANHOPE: I thank Ms Porter for her interest in this important question. As members know, the government’s vision for this city is an ambitious one and one that


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