Page 632 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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Just for the record I do attend the Tuggeranong Community Council. I will continue to attend the Tuggeranong Community Council to support the good people of Tuggeranong. I am also very pleased to support Darryl Johnston in any activity that he puts forward to us.
As I suspected, Mr Seselja has sought to fabricate my account of this, and I was disappointed but not surprised to see that. His purpose was clear; it had nothing to do with supporting—
Mrs Dunne: Point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, there is an accusation—I think the word was “fabricate”—from Ms Burch that Mr Seselja was trying to fabricate something—that is, he is telling a mistruth. I ask you to ask the minister to withdraw the accusation.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: One moment.
Mr Hargreaves: Point of order, clock, please, Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Yes, certainly. Stop the clock. Ms Burch, I suggest that you might wish to withdraw that comment.
MS BURCH: I withdraw the word “fabricate”, but, certainly, Mr Seselja was on 666 radio where he said that Mr Hargreaves was being egged on by Joy Burch, another member for Brindabella. He was pressed and was asked whether I was egging him on, and he said, “Yes, she was.” That is absolute nonsense. If we want to go to Hansard, everybody over there was laughing. In fact, with such hilarity did they find this exercise—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition, please be quiet. Ms Burch, you have the floor.
MS BURCH: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. Each one of them, in a row like happy ducks, they were laughing. Indeed, Mrs Dunne stood in this place in the middle of this and said:
Mr Speaker, I move that Mr Hargreaves be given more time to pontificate on the issues relating to Tuggeranong.
Shame, shame, shame. Mrs Dunne, in outrage now, stood there with a smile on her face and asked for more time to be given so they could all jolly along with it. That is absolute hypocrisy. This is just the sort of double standard that we have come to expect from Mr Seselja and the Canberra Liberals.
As I have already said, Mr Hargreaves has acknowledged that he was out of line and, to his credit, he has had the courage to admit it. The Chief Minister, showing leadership, has also expressed regret at Mr Hargreaves’s comments, and that is the right thing to do.
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