Page 4043 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 23 October 2018
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This is a genuine move, a genuine change. I put it to the crossbench and I put it to those members opposite in the government: stand up for your values. Show the people of Canberra that you do have a conscience, that you care, and that you are doing all that you can—all that is in your power, all that is before you to make things a little bit easier. Or you can pay lip service, as is often the case, and fail to take any meaningful action.
The Canberra Liberals believe in affordable rental. We believe in doing everything we can to reduce the housing cost burden that so many families are facing. And that is why Mr Parton has brought this bill forward on behalf of the opposition. We stand by it. We do not shirk from the fight or the debate on how we go about reducing the cost of housing in the ACT. We look forward to having the debate tomorrow.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Advanced Technology and Space Industries) (10.12): The motion for the suspension of standing orders should not be supported. Let us be very clear. This motion from the opposition is not about the merits or otherwise of Mr Parton’s bill. What this motion is about is the very core of our democratic system. Indeed, it is about the very function of the style of government that is in place in our territory and across Australia.
I draw the Assembly’s attention to the very clear and eloquent advice that the Clerk put together on this matter. In particular, I wish to draw members’ attention to paragraph 1.6 of that advice. That paragraph makes it very clear that by agreeing to this motion the opposition is asking the Assembly to wilfully disregard section 65 of the self-government act and to disrespect, to paraphrase—
Mr Wall interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Gentleman, can you resume your seat? Members on my left, Mr Wall was heard in silence. Please afford that same respect to others. Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: To paraphrase the advice, in paragraph 1.6: the principle is of the highest constitutional importance. The opposition, the acolytes of Abbott, Dutton, Morrison and Seselja—the supposed bastions of conservatism and tradition—are happy to junk constitutional principles, and indeed the law, when it suits their needs. But they are not so willing when it comes to protecting our community or standing up for the territory.
We all remember the debate in recent times, the attacks from other members of the Abbott, Dutton, Morrison and Seselja Liberals. They were attacks on our multicultural society; attacks on our LGBTI Canberrans; attacks on territory rights, our rights as Canberrans. They were all led by the Liberals on the basis of tradition. No words from those opposite in this debate, no couching of policy merit or otherwise, will take away from what this suspension of standing orders is really about.
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