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- 12 May 2004
Newcastle Rail Services
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Page: 8782
Ms LEE RHIANNON: I ask my question of the Minister for Transport Services, and Minister for the Hunter. When will the Minister quell the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Newcastle rail line and make a decision on it? Is the delay caused by problems with the Lower Hunter Transport Working Group reports? Is the delay because the Minister has discovered that the working group misinterpreted and misused data about passenger numbers on the rail line and exaggerated the potential of the alternatives to rail?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: I am still trying to work out how to quell something. I assume there are many methods one could refer to in history.
The Hon. Michael Gallacher: Remember when you used to crush the lefties down at the Labor Council?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: That is right, I could send in the Red Army or the People's Army to quell, like they did at Tianneman Square to quell dissent and disputes. It is interesting to see how they quell protests in North Korea.
Ms Lee Rhiannon: Point of order: I ask that the Minister be reminded about the issue of relevance. The question was very clear. I ask that the Minister give an answer that is relevant to the question, which is in keeping with his responsibilities.
The Hon. Jan Burnswoods: To the point of order: Since the Hon. Lee Rhiannon is now sitting on the Christian Democratic Party bench, perhaps she should make an announcement to the House!
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: To the point of order: My answer was completely relevant to the question. I was asked when I would quell certain actions. I have to make reference to the meaning of "quell" to understand what the honourable member is asking me to do. I suggest that in future she rephrase the question rather than criticise me for being irrelevant.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I remind the Minister for Transport Services that the standing orders refer to only two requirements relating to answers to questions without notice. While the Minister's answer may have been relevant, he transgressed the requirement not to debate the question. The Minister may continue.
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: I thank my colleague the Minister for Commerce for pointing out to me that "quell" means "vanquish, suppress, extinguish, quiet, allay". I like "vanquish". I do not understand the aim of the honourable member's question. If she is seeking information about the Lower Hunter Transport Working Group, I have said on the public record that a process is going on where we are looking at planning and other related issues in relation to the heavy rail line. As to quelling, it is a difficult thing to do because it implies a sense of intensity and degree that is not reflected in the opposition.
I would not "quell" the opposition to the removal of a rail line. I would pick another term, maybe, "hit them with a feather duster". I would hardly quell. To quell is of such great historical moment that it does not really refer to the sort of issues that the honourable member is talking about. As to the Lower Hunter Transport Working Group, a meeting will be held this Friday and it is progressing in its assessment of the best public transport solution for the Newcastle area. As to the assertions and ill-informed criticisms of some aspects of the report, that is typical of the Greens and I will not comment any further.
Ms LEE RHIANNON: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister elucidate his answer in the context of when he will announce his intentions about the future of the Newcastle rail line and whether he is confident in the work of the Lower Hunter Transport Working Group?
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: I am very happy to elucidate my answer. My first experience with the notion of quelling was, I think, at Kronstadt during the Russian Revolution when Trotsky took a brigade of the Red Army and crushed the anarchists. In my previous manifestation as a young Trotskyite I supported his decision in an historical sense. I have had time to reflect on the mistake of supporting that decision, but every time Ms Lee Rhiannon speaks I tend to think that Trotsky may have been right about suppressing anarchists because they do not add to the parliamentary process or the complexities of managing government. I certainly would advocate it for the Greens. Ms Lee Rhiannon can take some comfort in the fact that she had the ultimate victory when Stalin managed to get a pickaxe in the back of Trotsky's head.
Ms Lee Rhiannon: Point of order: Madam President, I ask you to request that the Minister withdraw those comments. I found them insulting. Again he is not being relevant to the question asked.
The PRESIDENT: Order! While we all accept fair political comment, intimations and inferences made by one member against another member are unparliamentary.
The Hon. MICHAEL COSTA: I withdraw that comment. I do not know whether the honourable member took any pleasure in that event, but some of the people of a particular political persuasion who associate with her may have taken some pleasure in it. This Government does not quell; it engages in sensible debate. If an argument is valid, we take it on board; if it is not, we do not.
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