Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On Monday night the member for Dobell launched a vicious attack on a community based volunteer group, Coastal Voice, and its president, Craig Thomson. Tonight I would like to correct the record and address the comments made by the ill-informed member for Dobell, who has made only nine speeches in parliament this year. Two of those have been attacks on people outside the parliament. Coastal Voice, the group that the member for Dobell attacked, was founded after a community age care forum on the Central Coast. Whilst the member for Dobell was invited, he failed to attend, even though 25 per cent of the people living in Dobell are aged over 55, a fact acknowledged by the member in his first speech in this parliament. Having a member that does not listen to his electorate, the community had to get their message to this government through other means.

Coastal Voice was formed after the aged care forum, as it became obvious that there were many issues that governments at all levels needed to address. It was logical for those attending the forum to fight to have these issues addressed, hence Coastal Voice was formed. Invitations to the official launch, which was held last Saturday, were sent to all local, state and federal politicians. The member for Dobell again failed to attend or even reply to the invitation. Apologies were received from the member for Robertson and other representatives.

The member for Dobell asserted that Coastal Voice was an ALP front. That may be the way the Liberal Party acts, but it certainly is not the ALP way. Coastal Voice has members from both sides of politics and from no sides of politics. Members of the ALP are members of Coastal Voice. I would expect that as they are people who are committed to social justice and a better community for everyone. The member for Dobell has made allegations regarding the involvement of the Central Coast Mariners. It is my understanding that it was as a result of direct threats by the member for Dobell that the coach of the Mariners withdrew as patron of Coastal Voice, but he and two of the Mariners still attended the launch.

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