Page 186 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Surprise, surprise! When an inquiry was made as to who would be an appropriate contact to liaise with the tent embassy, Ms Sattler’s name, who is the secretary of UnionsACT, was nominated. There was no great conspiracy, no great mystery. In fact, the only thing it displays from those opposite is ignorance—ignorance of the way the tent embassy operates and how it liaises with the broader community and with government, both federal and local, here in the ACT.
Further, what this motion and this line of questioning from those opposite really demonstrates is the failure of those opposite to even understand the important role that the Aboriginal tent embassy has played in the history of Australia and in the advancement of Indigenous interests here in Australia.
Members interjecting—
MR CORBELL: Dr Bourke, unlike those opposite—
Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, you threatened a warning; it is there.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hargreaves.
MR CORBELL: Dr Bourke was on duty on the Thursday, Australia Day. He was representing the ACT at the march to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the tent embassy. He was doing his job as a minister, which is more than can be said for most of those opposite.
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, you are now warned.
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Doszpot, I have just warned you. I have asked for the interjections to be stopped and you have interjected repeatedly. Mr Smyth, you have the floor on the motion.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (2.46): Mr Corbell asks why we proceed with this motion when the name of the person responsible, the chief of staff to the minister for Indigenous affairs, has been revealed to this Assembly after two days of questioning. The reason that we proceed is that they were the link in a chain that led to the behaviour that has brought Indigenous people in this country into disrepute and indeed has brought the whole country into disrepute overseas.
It is interesting what was said as a consequence of the phone calls made to Dr Bourke’s office and then to Ms Sattler. Ms Sattler got up and said—and here is the quote:
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