Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I was asked about impediments to the government’s policy and the Gold Coast Bulletin has identified the member for Moncrieff as an impediment. In fact, he is sinking like a stone. I can advise the House that it is now 509 days since the member for Moncrieff last asked me a question. I did thank the member for Forde for his question, and there was an especially good reason for that. I note that the member for Forde is a bullet performer in the top 100 most influential people on the Gold Coast—entering for the first time at 75 and rising fast. Do you know what the Gold Coast Bulletin says about the member for Forde and his commitment to this area? It points out that the member for Forde’s office is in Beenleigh. Beenleigh is in Logan City. The Gold Coast Bulletin actually says of him:

Despite his federal seat being positioned in Beenleigh, Mr Raguse has managed to successfully lobby Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System and the AFL stadium and secured a community cabinet meeting.

So, go the member for Forde! Mr Speaker, this is the only way of getting the member for Moncrieff up to the dispatch box.

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