CHIEF Minister Katy Gallagher has survived a no-confidence motion brought against her by the Liberal Party.
After almost three hours of debate at the Legislative Assembly, the Greens used their balance of power position to help Labor defeat the motion by 11 votes to six.
The motion was raised by Opposition Leader Zed Seselja last week over Ms Gallagher’s performance in the health portfolio after the Canberra Hospital “data doctoring” scandal.
Mr Zeselja said the defeat was a “shocking display of what democracy has become in this town.”
“Katy Gallagher, with the Greens’ support, today showed utter disrespect to the thousands of Canberrans who have been so appallingly treated by the health system,” he said.
“Today was a shocking display of what democracy has become in this town without a genuine crossbench. The ACT Greens have let down Canberrans who trusted them to hold the government to account.”
Ms Gallagher today dismissed the motion as “beneath the contempt of this place.”
“It is a motion designed not for any substantive accountability or scrutiny purpose. It is purely for political effect,” she said.
“It is an unserious motion brought by an unserious party.”
The Assembly will now work through all outstanding business before adjourning later this week for the last time before the October election.
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