Minister for Planning, and Minister for Redfern Waterloo Comments on Koori Radio

Mr PETER DEBNAM: My question is directed to the Premier. Given that the Minister for Planning, and Minister for Redfern Waterloo, Frank Sartor, has again proved that he is a foul-mouthed and arrogant bully, what advice is the Premier giving to Aboriginal people who have to work with this racist planning Minister?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Bathurst will come to order.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The planning Minister made an inappropriate comment, which he rectified very quickly. His comments were inappropriate and he rectified them by making an apology, acknowledging the fact that he had made an inappropriate comment. He should never have made it. The Minister has been rebuked as a result of his comments in relation to the Aboriginal community of Redfern and Waterloo. The planning Minister has a long record of working with Aboriginal communities. He has fresh ideas and energy in his capacity with the Redfern-Waterloo Authority and in working with Aboriginal communities and other members of the Redfern-Waterloo area to address the issues facing Redfern and Waterloo, and will continue to do so.

Mr Andrew Tink: Point of order: Did Mr Sartor offer you his resignation and did you refuse to accept it?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Epping will resume his seat.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The Minister recognised the inappropriateness of his comments, apologised, and acted quickly to rectify what he had done. In his former capacity as Lord Mayor he had built significant relationships with the Aboriginal community and worked in the Aboriginal community.

Mr Peter Debnam: Point of order: My point of order is relevance. The Premier ought to get to the heart of the matter: Did he resign? Did he offer his resignation and did the Premier reject it? Is that the truth?

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Premier has the call.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: He has, without equivocation, withdrawn his comments and I expect that he will get on and work with the Aboriginal community in Redfern-Waterloo to resolve a number of the issues there.