Tania MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (14:44):
If I was not giving a short speech in relation to Mr (Rod) Barton’s motion, I would not even bother to be sitting in here listening to this debate.
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party will not be voting on this motion today, either for it or against it. Neither will we vote on Mr (David) Davis’s motion relating to Mr Barton if that comes to a vote. We have always prided ourselves on never abstaining from a vote, but today is different.
The reason is that we feel that this schoolyard tit-for-tat on the public purse is an absolute waste of parliamentary time and public money. As Mr (Mark) Gepp said, we are leaders of our community, and can I say it is absolutely no wonder that the general public has such a low opinion of politicians.
While a personal attack on an MP has been made here in this place, Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party in no way—
Mr Barton interjected.
Tania MAXWELL: This is what I am saying, Mr Barton. A personal attack has been made on you, and we in no way, shape or form in Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party condone that.
Yesterday, before this motion was read in, Mr (Stuart) Grimley stood at the doors with victims who are seeking redress for abuse.
After the motion was read in I met with a victim of crime who feels completely discarded by the justice system because her son was killed in a car accident and the person responsible was never held to account. Her son is dead, and we are sitting in here having these ridiculous conversations and debates that are simply a waste of time.
I honestly think our Parliament has more important issues to debate, and on behalf of Victorians I want to say we need to get on with this instead of these schoolyard spats.
