Page 4096 - Week 13 - Thursday, 31 October 2013
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doing that. Private members’ day, which we all sat through yesterday, is a platform for members to come in here and raise a whole range of issues. Yesterday we had you, Mr Doszpot, raise the issue of an autism-specific school for the second or third time this year in the Assembly; yet somehow you and your colleagues feel that it is inappropriate for me to come in here and raise an issue which I have taken some interest in and which I have received some particular information on.
We have had matters of public importance, another forum through which members raise a whole range of issues. As a member of the executive, I am not able to submit to that process. That is fine, but there is no reason why there should not be a space in the program for me to raise these matters.
It is worth reflecting on history. At the time of the Carnell government, when Michael Moore was a minister in that government who also sat on the crossbench, there was executive members’ business. In fact the change to the standing orders that was implemented this term to create this space in the program was taken from that exact era of the Carnell government.
I guess that, with the benefit of hindsight, Ms Carnell was not the reactionary in the way the current mob is. She clearly had the capability for broad thinking and to be more collaborative than perhaps her successors are in this place. I wonder whose character that reflects more on—probably the current mob more than Ms Carnell. As she is not here to speak for herself, I will not make any further comment other than to observe that previous Liberal Party members of this place have been capable of greater thinking than the current mob.
It is poor form, and, frankly, quite appalling, that the shadow minister for education did not have a single thing to say on this very important issue when it comes to educating young people in this town. There may be disagreement about the role that I play in this place, but this is a serious topic. I brought forward a serious motion and I gave a, frankly, quite serious speech about the matters that are at hand for those students. I can objectively say that that was far from a political speech. It was a speech about the substance of the matter and the very serious issues that members of our community face.
When it comes to members’ understanding of the parliamentary agreement, I have great sympathy for the fact that they struggle to comprehend it. I cannot understand why that is. It is there. It is available on the web, if Mr Hanson wants to read it. It is clear that Mr Smyth has. It is clear that the Liberal Party apply it as it suits them, because Mr Hanson refuses to either read or acknowledge the parliamentary agreement as it is set out. It sets out very clearly the role that I have in this place.
Mr Hanson: I can’t remember signing it.
MR RATTENBURY: Mr Smyth was comfortable citing it yesterday in the motion that he wanted to bring forward on the Australia forum in this place, and appropriately so. I have no qualms with that. It was an acknowledgement of fact—that the Greens and the ALP in the parliamentary agreement acknowledge the desire to move the Australia forum forward.
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