Page 1030 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 17 March 2010

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MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Mr Corbell, I have already said that to Mr Hanson. I am just not sure what more I can actually do. Mr Hanson, please make it brief.

MR HANSON: I will continue, thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. The attacks from the government on the legislation have been entirely misleading. If I turn to those attacks, you will find that they started on 24 February, which was the date on which the legislation was due to be debated. I agreed with the Greens that I would defer that for a month, so it was not debated on that day. But out of the blue, miraculously, what we saw was a press release—

Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, Mr Hanson indicated that he would make a short statement. He was granted leave at 4.14 today.

Mr Hanson: But there have been many points of order.

Mr Corbell: It is now 4.35 and, even with points of order, he has been on his feet for at least 15 minutes. That is not a brief statement in the context of the practice of this place. I would draw to your attention again, Madam Assistant Speaker, House of Representatives Practice, which indicates that members should not take advantage of the leave granted to them by the Assembly. I would ask that you ask Mr Hanson to abide by the commitment he gave to this place to make a brief statement.

MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mrs Dunne): Mr Corbell, when members give a member leave, they realise that the clock is not on them. I was not here at the time, but I understand Mr Hanson made a commitment to make a brief statement. Mr Hanson, could you draw your statement to a conclusion.

MR HANSON: Yes, Madam Assistant Speaker. I believe in many regards I have made my point—that is, that this is very important legislation. I am disappointed that it has not been debated. Engagement has been conducted with the community. The criticisms that have been levelled at the legislation by the government—and I can go into those perhaps on another day—are entirely erroneous. It is a great shame, I think, that an opportunity to enhance the road safety of our community has been lost here today.

Environment—wood smoke

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4:36):

I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) the detrimental impact that wood smoke has on people’s health;

(b) the build up of wood smoke that occurs in the Tuggeranong Valley in winter months; and


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