Page 2580 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016

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the next week suggests risking the ACT’s credit rating and unemployment levels by rescoping a contract. He has no confidence in the man who likened the cost of light rail to buying an Audi for everyone.

Opposition members interjecting

Mr Gentleman: Point of order.

MADAM SPEAKER: Point of order.

MR GENTLEMAN: Madam Speaker, the opposition are interjecting. I am having trouble hearing the minister speak on this motion.

MADAM SPEAKER: The opposition, I think, were conducting conversations between themselves. There has been a low murmur, but I got the impression it was conversation between Mrs Jones and Ms Lawder. It was not a shout across the chamber, but I will remind members—

Mrs Jones interjecting

MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Jones! I am making a ruling on a point of order. I will remind members to keep the volume down, because some people’s voices travel more than others and some people have difficulty being heard over conversation. Not everybody projects as well as you and I do, Mrs Jones. Please be mindful of that. As I have said on a number of occasions in this place, I do not expect that debates are conducted in silence; it would be hard for us all to stay awake if that were the case. On the question that the motion be agreed to, Ms Fitzharris has the floor.

MS FITZHARRIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will take that as a comment as well.

It seems that the leader of the Canberra Liberals has no confidence in the man who likened the cost of light rail to buying an Audi for everyone, no confidence in the man who described the Labor introduction of rapid bus routes as absurd, no confidence in the man who admits that Canberra will need light rail in 20 years time. Now Mr Hanson is trying to take back control. Is he nervous about leading a party whose re-election platform is based entirely on an outrageous, reckless political decision taken some years ago, no matter the cost? How nervous is he that this cost is now revealed at around $300 million? That could be, for example, the Majura Parkway, 10 new schools, public hospitals.

Mrs Jones interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Jones. That is interjecting.

MS FITZHARRIS: The Canberra Liberals are again flip-flopping on their transport policies. We know they cannot be trusted. For years they have flip-flopped: on light rail in 1999, light rail again in 2005, and again in 2008; in 2012, nothing for public transport. Since then, Mr Coe has shown us he would prefer a fleet of Audis. Does anyone really believe the Canberra Liberals can be trusted on public transport?


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