Page 2535 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 11 August 2015
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Mr Hanson said, “Why are we here?” We know why you are here, Mr Hanson. You are here to lead a government like Tony Abbott’s. Mr Smyth is here to be a Treasurer like Joe Hockey, the Treasurer who says poor people do not drive. That is what you would be. That is the sort of administration you would run. On social policy you would take this city back to the 1950s, because that is what you believe in. You, Madam Speaker, and your colleagues believe in a social policy derived in the 1950s and 1960s. You are welcome to that. You can stay there, Madam Speaker. You and your colleagues—
Ms Lawder: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Point of order, Ms Lawder?
Ms Lawder: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not believe that Mr Barr would know what we believe. I think he is impugning our motives.
MADAM SPEAKER: I think that is a debating point rather than a point of order.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Liberal Party, the Canberra Liberals in particular, the most conservative branch of the Liberal Party in this country, believe in a 1950s and 1960s view of social policy. You are welcome to that view, but the rest of us do not have to stay in the 1950s and 1960s with you. We can move beyond that. This city can progress, and we are. We are leading the nation in many areas—social inclusion, embracing new technologies, a sustainable future for Canberra—and we are delivering on the ground.
This executive is delivering right across the areas of responsibility for the ACT government. We continue to be nation leaders in many areas of reform—in economic policy, tax policy, renewable energy, social policy, our response to housing and homelessness and domestic violence, and a range of other important social priorities. We are leading on the environment. We are leading in Indigenous reconciliation. We are leading in many areas. We were the first jurisdiction to legislate for same-sex marriage. We paved the way there.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR BARR: Well, there we go. That sums it up. There is the social conservatism on display. Yes, people will have a choice, Madam Speaker. Do they want a progressive government that supports them, that supports the rights of all people to be included in our society—a government that is leading in so many areas of social policy? Or do they want to take a step back to the 1960s and the 1950s? If they want to do that, they have got the Liberal Party; they have got the conservatives. That is what you are. Yes, we are happy for that contrast to be made. We are happy to contrast our approach with the contemporary approach of the Liberal Party in government nationally. Jeremy Hanson equals Tony Abbott style government.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson.
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