Page 724 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 2010

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MR SESELJA: That is how they do it. That is how they do it in Wollongong.

Mr Hargreaves: I’m awake now!

MR SESELJA: Not much politics there!

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, will you just resume your seat for a few seconds, please.

Mr Barr: Because, of course, that’s never happened in Liberal or National-run councils anywhere in this country, has it? No, never.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr! I know that this has touched a raw point. However, Mr Seselja, will you—

Mr Barr: I don’t own any white shoes, Madam Deputy Speaker.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, I understand that.

Mr Barr: But there are plenty of people on that side of politics who do.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am just about to speak to Mr Seselja about this. Mr Seselja—

MR SESELJA: Yes, Madam Deputy Speaker.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Wollongong has got nothing to do with this particular subject, so will you please—

Mr Smyth: It has everything to do with planning, though.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Excuse me, Mr Smyth, I am speaking to Mr Seselja. Just stick to the subject matter, which is the minister’s statement of planning intent. That is what you are talking about; nothing else.

MR SESELJA: It was a broad statement of comments, and I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for your ruling. I do thank you for highlighting what a raw nerve it has touched for the minister and for the Labor Party.

But let us go to a more local level: the difficulty when you develop your policies on the back of slogans is what it all means. What does it mean for him to keep politics out of planning? He says it is all going to be at arm’s length. Well, we have got a regime that does allow for most decisions to be at arm’s length, but is the minister saying now that he is not going to use the call-in powers? What does it mean for the call-in powers? I think he used his call-in powers on the dam. Did he call in the hospital car park? I think he may have called in the hospital car park. That was called in, yes.


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