Jon Stanhope is in a right mood over the recent media release by the Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur who wants to substitute “natural burial” in favour of a new crematorium.
In a rare display of vintage Chiefly rage he’s giving her both barrels which we’ll repeat here in full because you wouldn’t want to miss this kind of display:
Greens’ claims on southern cemetery are false
Released 10/01/2011The ACT Greens were playing cheap politics with claims made over the proposed southern cemetery, Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, said today.
“The ACT Greens have shown that they are prepared to make untrue statements about community sentiment and make false claims when it comes to the proposed southern cemetery,” Mr Stanhope said.
Mr Stanhope said that claims made by the ACT Greens’ spokesperson for Territory and Municipal Services, Caroline Le Couteur, that the residents of Tuggeranong did not support a crematorium at the proposed Southern Cemetery were untrue.
“It is estimated that 70% people of the people that die in the ACT each year are cremated and that this trend will continue,” Mr Stanhope said.
“Is Ms Le Couteur seriously suggesting that based on this the people of Tuggeranong, and Canberra more widely, would not want cremation facilities at a new cemetery?
“We also know from community surveys that there is strong support among residents for cremation facilities at a new cemetery. If Ms Le Couteur is proposing to ignore this then it seems that the Greens, the self-styled champions of consultation, are thumbing their noses up at what the community wants.
“It is also patently false of Ms Le Couteur to claim that the Government has not considered natural burials at the proposed cemetery.
“We know that both in Canberra and across Australia there is an interest in natural burials and this is being taken into account.
“I have been assured that a business case for the proposed cemetery, which is currently being finalised, clearly acknowledges the intention to incorporate natural burial into the proposed Southern Cemetery, as do the financial scenarios explored.
“I find it simply shocking that the ACT Greens have chosen to descend into cheap, shallow politics and falsehoods on this issue.”
(it came out yesterday but appeared to blow up the Chief Minister’s website)