Page 3133 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 20 August 2019

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MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, 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) (10.48): Another day; another stunt from the most conservative opposition in the country. If you want proof that those opposite are replicating Mr Tony Abbott’s playbook then you do not have to look too far.

Members interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Members!

MR GENTLEMAN: Here they go again, copying the most radical, conservative federal Liberal leader our country has ever known. Today’s motion by Miss C Burch is nothing more than a stunt. It is there to distract from the fact those opposite have no clue, no idea and do not want to talk about the economy or the budget.

Mr Coe interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, that is enough.

MR GENTLEMAN: Today we are meant to be considering the budget. It is a chance for the Leader of the Opposition to present an alternative case, but instead he is choosing to duck and hide. The Leader of the Opposition cannot string an economic argument together, and that is why this stunt is happening today.

Members interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Members!

Mrs Dunne interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, you are warned now as well.

MR GENTLEMAN: He cannot manage to debate rates in this place for two days, so he has come up with a way to distract from that. Otherwise there could be disquiet in the ranks of the opposition, with Miss C Burch looking to overshadow her own leader’s motion tomorrow. As I said, this is nothing but a stunt and a distraction, one that Mr Tony Abbott would be proud of. Well done, Mr Coe!

The motion has no substance. The Minister for Transport and City Services is an excellent minister who is doing a great job for all Canberrans, and I am proud to serve alongside him in this ministry. He has led improvements in city services. He is delivering one of the largest urban tree projects. He is working with our bus drivers and other public servants to improve our city. In recent weeks the minister has delivered new vending machines for our container deposit scheme, delivered improvements to the city interchange, worked with me to enable community groups to gain better access to land and delivered, of course, on the upgrades to Anketell Street, in my electorate of Brindabella.


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