At a time of international economic turbulence, the ACT Greens submitted the following item as their matter of public importance for 26 February 2009:
“The importance of investigating alternatives to cremation and standard cemeteries.”
As Shadow Minister for Urban Services, Alistair was responsible for responding. The folowing text is his response in the chamber.
Speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly
26 February 2009
It is with perplexity that I am before the chamber talking about this Matter of Public Importance.
Quite frankly, I am amazed that anyone in this chamber would submit a message to the Speaker highlighting this issue as the biggest issue for discussion, on this day.
We serve in this Assembly in challenging times. We have a global economic crisis, we have a Territory budget to go in to the red, we have unemployment on the rise, we have major infrastructure problems, and many other challenges impacting Canberrans.
I am amazed that anyone in this place would rate “alternatives to cremation and standard cemeteries” as up there with these issues in competing for our attention, at this time. The reason why so many Canberrans don’t care about the Assembly’s business is because of motions like this.
A further reason why I am amazed that we are discussing this issue is because of the new found fame and power the ACT Greens have in this place. To represent almost 25% of an Australian parliament is a coup for them and it is also a great responsibility. However, motions like this one make me ask the question: are the Greens really up to it? Did the people of Canberra who voted Green really expect or want these priorities to get up on the Territory’s agenda? This MPI is a return to the Greens’ loopy ideas of old.
“Investigating alternatives to cremation and standard cemeteries” is not a matter of public importance at this time.
In conclusion, I do not want to detract from the good people that serve our community so honourably by working in difficult professions such as: undertakers, funeral organisers, managers of crematory, crematoria and cemeteries, those in burial services and in running other death related ceremonies.
