Ms WALKER - 2015-09-17
Fifty per cent of the members of this House have just supported a censure motion condemning your appalling behaviour. Will you do the honourable thing and resign?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I think I made it pretty clear that I do not intend to resign, not because I am bullying my way through this, but because I have a passion for the work I do. As I said in the debate immediately before this, I have always worked very hard for the true welfare of the people of the Northern Territory and I will continue to do so. I fully expect the behaviour of this House to decay, but I will not be one of those people that steps through that process, I hope. The questioner here has recognised my commitment and passion for my job. I remind the member for Nhulunbuy we all are capable of error.
This has not been a comfortable time for me. As an Ambassador for White Ribbon Australia I underwent a thorough checking process to make sure I could wear the ribbon. The language I used yesterday is out of context with the modern environment and I regret using it. I have apologised, but I will not resign because I will continue serving the true welfare of the people of the Northern Territory with the dignity that has been ascribed to me by the member for Nhulunbuy. I am grateful to the members for Namatjira and Fong Lim for their comments.
I will continue to strive and work hard, and I will be driven, as I always have been in this job, until such time as circumstances see me removed from it. Then I will get on with the rest of my life.
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I think I made it pretty clear that I do not intend to resign, not because I am bullying my way through this, but because I have a passion for the work I do. As I said in the debate immediately before this, I have always worked very hard for the true welfare of the people of the Northern Territory and I will continue to do so. I fully expect the behaviour of this House to decay, but I will not be one of those people that steps through that process, I hope. The questioner here has recognised my commitment and passion for my job. I remind the member for Nhulunbuy we all are capable of error.
This has not been a comfortable time for me. As an Ambassador for White Ribbon Australia I underwent a thorough checking process to make sure I could wear the ribbon. The language I used yesterday is out of context with the modern environment and I regret using it. I have apologised, but I will not resign because I will continue serving the true welfare of the people of the Northern Territory with the dignity that has been ascribed to me by the member for Nhulunbuy. I am grateful to the members for Namatjira and Fong Lim for their comments.
I will continue to strive and work hard, and I will be driven, as I always have been in this job, until such time as circumstances see me removed from it. Then I will get on with the rest of my life.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016