Page 5266 - Week 12 - Thursday, 28 October 2010
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MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I am saying that that is a pejorative reflection on a member in this chamber and it should be withdrawn.
Mr Seselja: All right then; I withdraw.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, you have the floor.
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I am starting to get used to the fact that whenever there is a different opinion raised, then from certain people in this place it seems to just be straight to personal abuse—name calling and so forth, the names that seem to get thrown around here at times.
The Greens do have a different view. We believe that the act is quite clear about how these appointments are made. We were shown the names of those that were proposed to fill these roles. There was Mr Volker in the main role and Mr Hull as an alternate in case Mr Volker was not available. We do not believe that the tests of bias have been proven to be the case here. We believe that the act is being followed and therefore we support the motion being put forward today.
It is nothing to do with being a doormat. It is to do with the fact that an act was brought into this parliament. It was put forward by the Liberal Party and was supported by the Greens, because we very much agree with and believe in the purpose of this legislation. We find ourselves in this ridiculous position where the main part of that legislation cannot be fulfilled. We really need to push past this deadlock. We need to move on and we need to get an independent reviewer into place.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (11.49): At least now we know that the fig leaf that Mr Seselja has been hiding behind when it comes to his reasons to not support this motion today has been finally removed. We had in the last debate that this was all about Mr Seselja demanding to see the list. He wanted to see the list of who the other nominations were from different people and individuals. He wanted to see the list.
I am aware that the Chief Minister’s office has sought to provide his office with the list on numerous occasions and it has been declined.
Mr Seselja: No, that is not true.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Mr Seselja, please!
MR CORBELL: In fact, every time the list has been offered it is like: “No, do not show us the list just yet. We do not really want to see the list right now.” It had to be physically thrust into their hands like a document service. “This is the document. You cannot run away from it any more. Here is the list.” It is like a process server. We had to send the process server down to Mr Seselja and say: “Here it is. You have got the list. You cannot deny it any more.” Now that he has got that list,—
Opposition members interjecting—
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