Page 2508 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 13 August 2014
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When we are talking about affordability, quality has to be part of that conversation. It cannot be affordable just for the parents who are dropping their children into early childhood education and care; it must be affordable also for the people who are working in that sector. People who are working for between $17 and $23 an hour also need to have the option of affordable, quality, accessible early childhood education and care. Quality absolutely must be part of that conversation. I am thankful to Ms Lawder for clarifying her position and the Canberra Liberals’ position that they are 100 per cent, rock-solid supportive of affordable, accessible, quality early childhood education and care.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.26): I might take my second 10 minutes as well. It is patronising in the extreme to get something wrong, have somebody correct you and then stand up and say that Ms Lawder has clarified her position. What should have happened is that Ms Berry should have gotten up following the withdrawal of the use of the word “cow” about a fellow member in this place and apologised and said that she had got it wrong. Then she should have sat down. To try to justify what has occurred by somehow suggesting that Ms Lawder misunderstood what she had actually said is ridiculous in the extreme. If we are going to have a debate in this place—yes, there is argy-bargy—and we get comments from members opposite laughed at by ministers who thought it was funny, the standard of this place goes down.
Mr Barr: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker, under standing order 46, I have been misrepresented by—
MR SMYTH: I did not name you, Mr Barr.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do you wish to make a statement about being misrepresented, Mr Barr?
Mr Barr: Madam Deputy Speaker, yes. I laughed at the remark coming from Ms Lawder about Ms Berry’s glasses and the pettiness of that. I was laughing at that moment, yes. Then Ms Berry made what was an inappropriate comment that she has withdrawn. I certainly will not have it stand on the record that I have laughed at that comment. I was laughing before that moment at the exchange between the two members. I will not have it stand. I will not have it stand, Madam Deputy Speaker. That is a slur. If those opposite wish to make it outside this place, go ahead. I will not have that stand. It is an outrageous slur, Madam Deputy Speaker.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: The level of debate is, I believe, from sitting in this chair and listening to it from both sides, deteriorating. I think we would like to get back to the subject matter of proposed expenditure. Mr Smyth, have you anything more to say about the proposed expenditure?
MR SMYTH: I do, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will finish by simply saying that, given her wealth of experience in these fields, people should listen to Ms Lawder and what she said more closely and not attempt to misrepresent her. What they should do is listen to years of experience in the community sector, whether it be in disability or
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