Page 184 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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There are questions outstanding as to what was the purpose. When the Prime Minister’s office called Dr Bourke’s office, was the conversation, “Oh, look, we just need someone to comment”? Or was it: “We need to get to the people on the ground at the Aboriginal tent embassy false information about what Tony Abbott is alleged to have said. We want to get to people at the tent embassy information saying that Tony Abbott has said that the tent embassy should be torn down”—information that was false?
So did they have all the false information? Were they told the rationale of the Prime Minister’s office for wanting to get in touch with someone on the ground at the tent embassy and wanting to get that information to them? Dr Bourke still has not explained that. He has not explained the purpose. He has not explained the nature of that call. He has not explained what they were asked to do. He is simply trying to brush it off as being asked for media comment. It simply does not wash.
Why was it then that his office decided that Kim Sattler would be the person? Why would they have called the minister for Indigenous affairs and then it was decided that it would be Kim Sattler? Was it because she was seen as someone who could incite things? Was it because she was seen as someone who would say inflammatory things? Or was it simply because she was a Labor mate who could be trusted to deliver the falsehood that was being peddled by the Prime Minister’s office? These are the questions that remain unanswered. These are the questions that Dr Bourke will have to answer.
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (2.41): I think this is a colossal waste of time. We should actually be spending our time here talking about the affairs of the ACT government.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! You will have your chance in a moment.
MS LE COUTEUR: Whatever the rights or wrongs of whatever may have been said—obviously I have no information as to what anyone may have said to each other in this—it does not appear to be the business of the ACT government.
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, thank you.
MS LE COUTEUR: However, the whole question I have to say has been somewhat blown up. As I have said publicly on Facebook—if that is regarded as public—I was there as part of the march from Civic to Parliament House. I in fact observed whatever you want to call it. It certainly was not a riot. I was on my way home. It looked like it was about to rain. I could hear the noise. So like any other curious human being, I went and had a look at it.
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