Page 2254 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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public servants. We will stand up for them.” Do not make apologies for your federal colleagues. We will not make apologies when there is Canberra bashing on the Liberal side of politics. Nor should the Labor Party make any apologies and do anything other than condemn the Canberra bashing and the public servant bashing from federal Labor right now.
What makes it so much worse is that they were not honest about it. People voted for them on the basis that they would protect their jobs. They will not, and they have let these families down. So let us as an Assembly now get together and make a clear statement of principle. There is no political language in this other than standing up for our public servants, and I look forward to being supported by all members of this place.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services) (4.07): I welcome the opportunity to talk today about the commonwealth public service and the role it plays in Canberra. It is an important day today, being the day after the federal budget. I note that Mr Seselja did not actually get to his motion as it is outlined until the last four seconds of his presentation where he actually spent—
Mr Seselja: You weren’t here at the start.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Stop the clock. Chief Minister, resume your seat for a second, please. Leader of the Opposition, Mr Seselja, the Chief Minister heard you in absolute silence.
Mr Seselja: Sorry, just in accordance with the precedent Mr Rattenbury set earlier, I would like to be able to respond to what Ms Gallagher has said against me. I think she has verballed me. Is there an opportunity to respond now?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, I think it could wait a little further into the Chief Minister’s speech. You do not have the leave of the chair at the moment.
Mr Seselja: Okay, so we do not if we do not get leave—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: No, you do not. Please resume your seat. I advise the chamber that the Chief Minister heard everybody in silence, and I expect the same courtesy to be given to her. And I will move without warning. Chief Minister, the floor is yours.
MS GALLAGHER: I did not realise how touchy the Leader of the Opposition was, I must say. They are prepared to hurl the abuse, but the minute they get any sort of response, it is straight to the feet, points of order, suspension of standing orders. You have got to toughen up, Mr Seselja. It is a tough place to work in.
Mr Seselja: On a point of order, Mr Assistant Speaker.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Stop the clock. Chief Minister, please resume your seat. Mr Seselja.
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