Ms CARNEY - 2007-11-27
When asked on ABC radio this morning about the elevation of the member for Millner - the author of the famous Bonson memo - and the member for Sanderson to the ministry, despite their embarrassing behaviour, you said that they had been returned by the voters of the Northern Territory. Contrary to what you said on radio, neither of them have faced voters since their publicly embarrassing comments. Why did you seek to mislead the listeners this morning? Is this more of what we can expect …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition well knows that she cannot make an allegation unless by way of a substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: I ask you to withdraw those words and reword the question, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms CARNEY: Why did you represent to Territorians that your two new ministerial colleagues had faced the voters since their disgraceful conduct when, in fact, you knew that was not the case? Is that what Territorians can expect from you as the new Chief Minister in the future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, on this occasion I will thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. She really is confusing what I said on the radio this morning. It is a continuation of a line of questions that do not go to the substantive issues facing the Northern Territory - the substantive issues of how to improve the economy, how to improve health and education, how to improve the lives of indigenous Territorians. She is playing with semantics and words in regard to the number of elections that both the member for Sanderson and the member for Millner have faced. The member for Millner and the member for Sanderson faced the people in 2001 and again in 2005. That is what I have said.
I was talking about the parliamentary experience that they bring to their new roles as Cabinet ministers.
In the case of the member for Sanderson, particularly in his three years as the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, which goes to the absolute level of detail of the Northern Territory government’s budget and the scrutiny of a $3bn budget is great experience to be brought into the Cabinet room. The member for Millner, in being returned twice, the last time with a huge majority, speaks volumes of the regard in which he is held right throughout the Darwin community.
I am very proud to have a man called Bonson in the Cabinet in the Northern Territory, because it is a great Territory name with great history attached to it. If the Leader of the Opposition spent more time in Darwin, she might understand the contribution that the extended Bonson family has made to the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … but hardly spending any time in Darwin she would not actually know about that contribution.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I look forward in Question Time tomorrow to getting some substantive questions about things that are important to the people of the Northern Territory, as opposed to the …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … personal attacks that she has persisted with today. It does not hold her in good stead …
Ms Carney: A statement of fact.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It does not hold her in good stead in the eyes of Territorians. I urge the Leader of the Opposition to get on to matters of substance and shelve the personal attacks and let us move the Territory forward.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition well knows that she cannot make an allegation unless by way of a substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: I ask you to withdraw those words and reword the question, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms CARNEY: Why did you represent to Territorians that your two new ministerial colleagues had faced the voters since their disgraceful conduct when, in fact, you knew that was not the case? Is that what Territorians can expect from you as the new Chief Minister in the future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, on this occasion I will thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. She really is confusing what I said on the radio this morning. It is a continuation of a line of questions that do not go to the substantive issues facing the Northern Territory - the substantive issues of how to improve the economy, how to improve health and education, how to improve the lives of indigenous Territorians. She is playing with semantics and words in regard to the number of elections that both the member for Sanderson and the member for Millner have faced. The member for Millner and the member for Sanderson faced the people in 2001 and again in 2005. That is what I have said.
I was talking about the parliamentary experience that they bring to their new roles as Cabinet ministers.
In the case of the member for Sanderson, particularly in his three years as the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, which goes to the absolute level of detail of the Northern Territory government’s budget and the scrutiny of a $3bn budget is great experience to be brought into the Cabinet room. The member for Millner, in being returned twice, the last time with a huge majority, speaks volumes of the regard in which he is held right throughout the Darwin community.
I am very proud to have a man called Bonson in the Cabinet in the Northern Territory, because it is a great Territory name with great history attached to it. If the Leader of the Opposition spent more time in Darwin, she might understand the contribution that the extended Bonson family has made to the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … but hardly spending any time in Darwin she would not actually know about that contribution.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I look forward in Question Time tomorrow to getting some substantive questions about things that are important to the people of the Northern Territory, as opposed to the …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … personal attacks that she has persisted with today. It does not hold her in good stead …
Ms Carney: A statement of fact.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It does not hold her in good stead in the eyes of Territorians. I urge the Leader of the Opposition to get on to matters of substance and shelve the personal attacks and let us move the Territory forward.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016