Page 3530 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 18 August 2010
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become an increased burden on the health system. So the points that have been made by others are very true, that this will have a real impact on Canberra families. But let us not forget that the consequences of these policies would be incredibly damaging to the public school system and to the public health system, because both have been structured, both have been resourced, to enable only a certain number of students and patients at a time.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella) (3.47): I actually have to share with you a concern, Madam Assistant Speaker. If the Greens get their way in this country, we’ll all be rooned! I do not believe I can vote for a party that eats its own young! I think this is dreadful.
In all seriousness, it all seems to me like a bunch of people standing in the headlights of a Mack truck. I do not see anything in this motion which asks, “What about the Democrats’ policies on education, housing and childcare?” I do not see anything about Family First and the abrogation of our rights that those people keep pontificating about. I do not see any of that. All I see in this motion is an all-out attack on the Greens.
The people I have a difficulty with—apart from the substance, of which there was not very much—is the idea that you can do this under privilege in this house. I think, in fact, that is an abuse of parliamentary privilege in this place.
Mrs Dunne: You could have had a ruling on this yesterday when it was listed, if it is such an important issue.
MR HARGREAVES: The grumblings of those on the waiting list for mental health do not impress me.
Mr Hanson: Well, have you listened to Mr Barr?
MR HARGREAVES: I am listening, and I listened.
Mr Hanson: What Mr Barr said—
MR HARGREAVES: You will recall, Mr Hanson—through you, Madam Assistant Speaker—that I listened to you in silence.
Mr Hanson: Mr Barr didn’t. Your colleagues didn’t.
MR HARGREAVES: I listened to Mr Hanson in silence, but he is incapable of listening to anyone in silence.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): One minute, Mr Hargreaves. Mr Hanson, please, let us listen to Mr Hargreaves in silence.
Mr Hanson: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, I spoke for about eight minutes before I asked—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Could we please stop the clock.
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