[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Canberra Liberals – ‘Liberal’ with the truth

[Jaques, Alison]

MEDIA RELEASE
Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo

19 March 2014

Canberra Liberals – ‘Liberal’ with the truth

The Canberra Liberals have a convenient way of twisting the truth to suit their own agenda, as displayed in the chamber this afternoon through a motion in relation to the Nurse Lead Walk-In Centre.

“The motion was misleading in that it only used half of the Health Minister’s quote, and ignored the remainder of the quote which made clear that she was not declaring the closure of Walk-In Centres,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“It is disappointing to see this kind of dishonesty being used in the chamber, but perhaps we should be used to it by now with the history of ‘Liberal’ use of the truth in election campaigns.

“The Liberals have certainly used many Greens proposals against us in the same way over the years.

Zed Seselja, former Liberals Leader said in the City News in October 2011 that: “the Greens even tried banning the sale of puppies”

Truth: The Greens introduced amendments to govern the breeding and sale of animals. This included licensing of breeders, limitations on selling cats and dogs except from approved sellers such as licensed breeders and animal welfare organisations. It also permitted pet stores to sell animals if they were facilitating the sale from an animal welfare organisation.

Mr Seselja also said that: “Households who can't afford solar panels will be slugged an extra $225 a year to compensate those who can.”

Truth: 30 MW of small and medium scale solar in the ACT was costed at around $27 per household per year.

“As these few examples illustrate, truth in campaigns is not a high priority for the Canberra Liberals,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“But I think the absolute classic for the last Assembly election was of course the “Triple Your Rates” slogan. This is a typical use of a partial sentence, or a partial truth.

“Whilst it is inevitable that rates will triple some time in the future – over a twenty year period or more – it will certainly not happen in this current Assembly term, as was being insinuated by the Canberra Liberals slogan.

“The community relies on their elected representatives to engage seriously in debate and not misrepresent the truth to suit their own agenda.

“The Canberra Liberals need to show more respect to the Canberra community and take their responsibilities as parliamentarians seriously.


Statement ends


Ali Jaques | Media Adviser to Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens Member for Molonglo
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services; Corrections; Housing;
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; and Ageing.

t:  (02) 6205 3897 | m:  0481 035 764| alison.jaques at act.gov.au |

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