Page 807 - Week 02 - Thursday, 23 February 2012

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


Village was set up after a meeting which Alistair Coe organised in conjunction with people like Tio Faulkner and Vicki Dunne, he set up a meeting, he got this issue going. That group grew out of that and we have had a now wonderful outcome for the people of Hawker.”

So there we have it. According to Mr Seselja, the director of electorate services was directly responsible for establishing the Friends of Hawker Village. They are not my words but the words of Mr. Seselja. Contrast that, if you will, with the answer from Warren Prince, in a recent edition of the Canberra Times. He was asked whether he had had any dealings with Tio Faulkner organising community meetings, forums or consultations. Mr Speaker, what do you think was the response by Mr Prince—the media spokesperson for the Friends of Hawker Village? I can tell you. He said, “Never heard the name.” “Never heard the name” was the reported response from the man who is one of the three senior—

MR SPEAKER: Order! One moment, Ms Porter, thank you. Stop the clocks. Ms Porter, I am trying to listen to the content of your speech. I find myself in a difficult position where I need to listen to your speech to know what you are about to say. At the same time, you are prosecuting an issue that we have just commissioned an independent audit to undertake.

MS PORTER: Okay.

MR SPEAKER: I am not sure what the specific standing order is, but I do have some discomfort at the way this speech is progressing. You might think about how you want to phrase the remainder of your speech. I think it is in the interest of all of the Assembly that we not be seen to be interfering with the process that is underway.

MR PORTER: I am just making the point that Mr Prince had not heard Mr Tio Faulkner’s name, although he was supposed to have been organising it.

Mr Coe: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

MS PORTER: I am just about to finish. And I just want to say that there seems to be a discrepancy in these two points. That is all.

Mr Coe: Point of order.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.

Mr Coe: I seek your ruling as to whether she is complying with your earlier request.

MS PORTER: I did.

Mr Coe: In spite of your giving advice to her, she went on just then to extend further into ground which is at risk of influencing the process which was established by this Assembly. I think it would warrant some action from you.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video