Mr EDE - 1995-08-22
My question follows the Chief Minister's very curious remarks in relation to the absence of a listing in the telephone book for the member for Fannie Bay. In passing, I remind him that she was elected after the recently issued telephone book was printed.
Members interjecting.
Mr Finch: So what?
Mr EDE: Should she ask that the entire telephone book be recalled in order to have it reprinted with her name included?
Is the Chief Minister embarrassed by the fact that a government member, the member for Casuarina, who has been a member of the House for many times the number of months that the member for Fannie Bay has been a member, does not have his home telephone number listed in the telephone book?
Mr Bailey: And he has had plenty of time to ...
Mr Finch interjecting.
Mr EDE: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the relevant pages from the telephone book so that the minister who ...
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Members interjecting.
Mr EDE: ... the telephone book, then probably he will refuse to eat his words.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, these are the best questions they have. Fantastic! I challenge anyone to telephone the member for Casuarina's electorate office. They will hear a message that provides telephone numbers at which they can find him. In addition, he diverts his office telephone to his mobile telephone. I know that he can be contacted by telephone, because I have contacted him on many occasions. However, when this person ...
Mr Bailey: You know that but, if you were a constituent telephoning him at 11 pm, it is hardly likely that you would telephone his electorate office.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Let me pick up the interjection from the crazed member for Wanguri.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: The member for Casuarina is listed in the telephone book as the member for Casuarina and, if you telephone his electorate office, your call will be diverted or you will receive advice of relevant numbers. However, the poor woman I spoke of assured me that she searched for a number for the member for Fannie Bay for 2 hours. When she telephoned 013, that service was not able even to tell her whether there was a Clare Martin in Darwin. I could have found the telephone number, because I happen to know the name of the member for Fannie Bay's partner, but this woman did not. That is the point. The fact is that the member for Fannie Bay walked around touting the fact that she would be accessible. She has even written letters to people saying that she is committed to working with them and that she will be accessible, but this person was unable to find her.
I point out that every minister, including the Chief Minister, is listed in the telephone book and I receive these sorts of calls. As I say, all the member for Fannie Bay has to do is leave a message on the answering machine in her electorate office. That way, hopefully I will not receive telephone calls at 11 pm to deal with matters for her constituents who have given up on her already.
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Members interjecting.
Mr Finch: So what?
Mr EDE: Should she ask that the entire telephone book be recalled in order to have it reprinted with her name included?
Is the Chief Minister embarrassed by the fact that a government member, the member for Casuarina, who has been a member of the House for many times the number of months that the member for Fannie Bay has been a member, does not have his home telephone number listed in the telephone book?
Mr Bailey: And he has had plenty of time to ...
Mr Finch interjecting.
Mr EDE: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the relevant pages from the telephone book so that the minister who ...
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Members interjecting.
Mr EDE: ... the telephone book, then probably he will refuse to eat his words.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, these are the best questions they have. Fantastic! I challenge anyone to telephone the member for Casuarina's electorate office. They will hear a message that provides telephone numbers at which they can find him. In addition, he diverts his office telephone to his mobile telephone. I know that he can be contacted by telephone, because I have contacted him on many occasions. However, when this person ...
Mr Bailey: You know that but, if you were a constituent telephoning him at 11 pm, it is hardly likely that you would telephone his electorate office.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Let me pick up the interjection from the crazed member for Wanguri.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: The member for Casuarina is listed in the telephone book as the member for Casuarina and, if you telephone his electorate office, your call will be diverted or you will receive advice of relevant numbers. However, the poor woman I spoke of assured me that she searched for a number for the member for Fannie Bay for 2 hours. When she telephoned 013, that service was not able even to tell her whether there was a Clare Martin in Darwin. I could have found the telephone number, because I happen to know the name of the member for Fannie Bay's partner, but this woman did not. That is the point. The fact is that the member for Fannie Bay walked around touting the fact that she would be accessible. She has even written letters to people saying that she is committed to working with them and that she will be accessible, but this person was unable to find her.
I point out that every minister, including the Chief Minister, is listed in the telephone book and I receive these sorts of calls. As I say, all the member for Fannie Bay has to do is leave a message on the answering machine in her electorate office. That way, hopefully I will not receive telephone calls at 11 pm to deal with matters for her constituents who have given up on her already.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016