Page 643 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012

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Apparently that is not going to happen today. It is acceptable to say things which no-one has agreed to. Nobody believes it; nobody supports it; nobody believes it is true. But with this amendment we will validate them. We will erase any attempt to hold the member responsible for his words. I urge members to not support this amendment.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (3.55): I will be very brief. I was not going to say something, but I will after listening to Mr Smyth. I mean, honestly! There is this talk about upholding standards, when some of the members of the Liberal Party are the worst offenders against standards in this place. I am going to go again to the comments I mentioned in my speech. Mrs Dunne came down here in the adjournment and made some disgraceful comments about Mr Hargreaves’s wife.

Mrs Dunne: Point to them. You come down here in the adjournment. You had better check your memory and then you had better come in here and apologise.

MS BRESNAN: I recall it. I will.

MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Mrs Dunne, you have already been warned. Again, you will be named. Ms Bresnan, you have the floor.

MS BRESNAN: Thank you. And there have been comments made about public servants on the record. Honestly!

Mr Doszpot interjecting—

MS BRESNAN: Mr Doszpot, please. This is the disgraceful thing I am talking about.

MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, you will be warned as well.

MS BRESNAN: I am honestly sick and tired of it. We talk about standards in this place. It is up to all of us to do this. Mr Hargreaves has apologised. The Chief Minister has apologised. There have been personal calls made to Mr Johnston.

Mr Doszpot interjecting—

MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, you are now warned.

MS BRESNAN: There have been apologies made. This is absolutely ridiculous. We have spoken to Mr Johnston himself; I think he is just bemused by what is happening—the politics that has been put into this situation. It is extremely frustrating that we are having this debate here. Apologies have been made. It is up to all of us to maintain standards in this place. After listening to what Mr Smyth has said, I am lost for words. In terms of the behaviour and the sorts of comments we hear from members here, it is outrageous to be accused of the sorts of things he is accusing other members of, including condoning comments, which nobody is doing. That is just completely untrue, and he knows it.


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