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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-10-14 Daily Xml
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Yarwood, Mr Stephen

Ms REDMOND (Heysen) (15:56): Can I endorse the comments of the member for—

Ms Bedford: Florey. Penicillin.

Ms REDMOND: —Florey regarding Marie Shaw who is indeed an excellent person who has been involved in ice hockey for a long time. I rise today to put on the record some home truths about the current Lord Mayor who is of course currently seeking re-election to that high office. The Hon. Stephen Yarwood seems to have a reputation for being 'affable'. I have heard him described that way more than once in the media, but my experience of him, particularly on the occasion of our last encounter, showed him to be anything but 'affable'. Indeed, I would call him unfit to hold the office.

The last time we spoke was on an occasion in 2013. I was no longer Leader of the Opposition but I was nevertheless invited to attend a function at Government House. It was on a Friday evening I think. Certainly it was an early evening on a weekday and the invitation was for 5pm. Given that I have car parking at parliament and that at that hour I would not be competing with theatre goers, I had allowed one hour or a little more to get from home to Government House.

The actual road journey is one which in past years would have taken 20 minutes, so allowing 10 minutes for parking and walking across to Government House, the whole trip should have taken not much more than 30 minutes. So I thought allowing just over an hour to take account of the peak hour in the city, even though I was travelling against the traffic, was more than adequate.

However, the trip, particularly along Pulteney Street and North Terrace was so slow that by 5.15pm, that is more than an hour and a quarter after I had left home, I was standing on the footpath outside parliament waiting for the walk sign to cross King William Street feeling somewhat rushed and annoyed, I must admit, since it is not good to be late for a vice-regal attendance. Next thing a car came along King William Street in front of me and pulled over to the side. Out hopped the Right Honourable Lord Mayor who walked up to stand beside me waiting at the crossing.

We greeted each other and I suggested that we were both probably running late for the same function. The Lord Mayor acknowledged that yes, he too, was on his way to Government House. Now, there is no denying that my next comment was provocative. Indeed, I do not deny that I intended it to be provocative. I made a comment to the effect that in allowing only one hour for what used to be a 20 minute trip I had failed to make adequate allowance for the council's and government's plans to make this city as inaccessible and difficult as possible for those of us who choose to live in the suburbs.

Yes, indeed, it was intended to be provocative, but it also had an element of truth to it. I am sure I speak on behalf of many—in fact, the vast majority—when I say that those of us who choose to live in the many pleasant suburbs of this wonderful city are increasingly frustrated by the incessant moves to keep us out of the city unless we are prepared to travel by public transport or pushbike—but I digress; I shall return to that topic on another occasion.

Back to the Lord Mayor and his response to my comment, I would have to say that if I was trying to provoke a response I certainly succeeded. The Lord Mayor launched an attack unlike any I had ever experienced—and believe me, Madam Deputy Speaker, I have experienced some. He began slowly at first to explain to me that I do not know anything about town planning, which as it happens is not true. I studied local government and town planning law as one of my electives, became familiar with state planning law as a member of local government many years ago and was involved with the environmental law movement before I ever came into this place. But I did not even have a chance to respond to that. He had launched, and the tirade was as unstoppable as a firecracker at Chinese new year celebrations. I literally did not utter another word after my original comment.

The attack, which deteriorated to an unending torrent of verbal abuse, continued right across the six lanes of King William Street, across the slip lane, through the front gate (where I just smiled at the guard as the abuse continued), and all the way up the gravel drive literally to the front steps of Government House, at which point he stopped and we went our separate ways. Make no mistake, when I say 'abuse', I really mean abuse. Without putting too fine a point on it, he called me, amongst other things, 'an effing c'. I will let you put in the expletives. That was what showed me the true make of this man whom others might regard as affable but with whom I have studiously avoided contact since that day.

It transpired that unbeknownst to me the 'affable Lord Mayor' had had a difficult press conference earlier that same day, or so I was later told. I did not see the news that night, but I am told that the press conference ended with him pushing a camera out of the way. If that was the case, it might explain his behaviour, but it certainly does not excuse it. I for one do not think he is an appropriate person to hold the office of Lord Mayor, and he, no doubt, is glad that I do not get a vote.

Time expired.

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