Page 4044 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 23 October 2018
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It is nothing to do with the merits of Mr Parton’s bill because those merits have already been debated in a motion brought previously before this place. It all has to do with trashing principles and tradition to seek the political needs of the Abbott, Dutton, Morrison and Seselja Canberra Liberals.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR GENTLEMAN: This is why the motion should not be supported.
Mr Wall interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall! Members, you interject again. Mr Wall was heard in silence. If you interject again, you will be warned. Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Instead, we should get on with the business of the Assembly. We should get back to delivering what really matters for Canberrans, making our city even more inclusive, progressive and connected—things that this territory government has been doing and will continue to do.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (10.15): What a sad day for democracy in the ACT. We are elected by the people to bring ideas to this chamber and to debate them. That is what they expect us to do. This week I intended to bring on for debate an idea that we have already agreed on. We have already agreed on it. We had the motion less than a month ago. We have already decided that it is a great idea. This was Ms Le Couteur’s motion. Now, for the most technical of reasons, we cannot even debate it in here. What a sad day for democracy that we cannot represent the people who voted for us, that we cannot represent the people who are languishing at the end of public housing waiting lists and who cannot afford rentals in the private sector.
Time and again when I am out talking to the good people of Tuggeranong they say to me, “Why can’t you politicians just work together to find solutions?” Let me tell you, Madam Speaker, I wish that we could. I wish that we could. Let me remind all those in the chamber that oppositions are not supposed to be an impediment to good governance. Oppositions are supposed to be imperative to achieving good governance. You can roll your eyes all you like, Chief Minister. How ironic will it be if Ms Le Couteur votes against this? How ironic will it be?
How bizarre will it be if the Canberra Liberals fight here in the chamber just for the right to debate this bill, which is, in essence, the same as Ms Le Couteur’s motion? This land tax rebate was so important to Ms Le Couteur a month ago. She was out talking to the media; she was writing op-eds; she was pleading for us all to pass the motion, which we did, even allowing the minister to water it down somewhat. How bizarre would it be if Ms Le Couteur voted for it not even to be given the chance to be debated, let alone implemented as law in the ACT?
You Greens can talk the talk all day, but I do not know that you can walk the walk. Here is your chance to prove me wrong. Here is your chance to prove the voters wrong. If you want to be a genuine crossbench, this your chance.
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