MINDA INCORPORATED

Ms FOX (Bright) (16:45): I rise to speak on a matter which relates to Minda Incorporated. I was informed yesterday that Mr David Holst, former spokesperson for Disability for the Disabled, has most egregiously misrepresented me in a leaflet that he has distributed in the electorate of Bright today. A number of untruths have made their way into that leaflet and I will be seeking legal advice on the contents of that leaflet. In that leaflet, Mr Holst and his supporters accuse me of being 'anti Minda' and 'attacking Minda'. I need to respond to this to protect my reputation.

Firstly, I am not anti Minda; far from it. Mr Holst accuses me of attacking Minda's 2,000 plus clients, which is simply untrue. I have never, ever questioned the excellence of Minda's services. My concern is purely about their potential footprint. I have supported Minda for many years, both personally and professionally, as have members of my family. It is interesting that no-one from Minda, and certainly not their self-appointed spokesperson, has bothered to point this out.

Secondly, there is currently a public consultation period occurring and my comments were made in the context of that very proper process. Thirdly, my public comments about the Minda master plan have been generally positive, a fact that Mr Holst has wilfully ignored. I have some doubts about one aspect, I repeat, one aspect of a very large plan.

Lastly, I have raised concerns about one element of the Minda plan because I have been contacted by many constituents who were worried about it. I am not a lone voice on this. If I cannot come to parliament and express my concerns and those of my constituents without a nasty personal attack, then there is something very wrong. Our system of democracy demands that I represent my constituents in parliament and I will not be bullied and I will not be silenced by anyone, no matter how many threats they make as I attempt to do that.