THE controversial Skywhale balloon, “bullying” and name-calling were all on the agenda at question time in the Legislative Assembly today. 

But the assembly soon took an informal turn when Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch jokingly called opposition education minister Steve Doszpot “Mr soft spot” as he pressed her on the number of ACT Childcare Centres complying with new standards.

“I do apologise, I meant Mr Doszpot, it was a slip of the tongue,” she said.

“We still have a way to go before we know if all centres comply with standards as they are yet to be assessed, but I am confident they will.”

Labor MLA Dr Chris Bourke accused opposition leader Jeremy Hanson of “bullying” him as he questioned Ms Burch on whether security fences to combat school vandalism had been effective.

“Why don’t you pick someone who can answer that?” snapped Dr Bourke to Hanson.

Ms Burch criticised Mr Hanson for “continually harassing Dr Bourke” before speaker Vicki Dunne interjected, telling her “it is not your job to keep order in this place.”

The topic turned to the controversial Skywhale Balloon, which has raised criticism over the last week after it was revealed the government did not own the balloon, despite spending up to $300,000 on the project.

Liberal Party Senate candidate Zed Seselja raised concerns to Chief Minister Katy Gallagher about the government spending thousands on a balloon which “may only fly to Canberra infrequently.”

“If you looked at the artist’s work you would know it’s not going to be a standard hot air balloon,” said Ms Gallagher.

“There were additional costs relating to the balloon which will be determined in the centenary year, that has been capped at $300,000. If we had retained ownership of the balloon we would have had operating costs of the balloon for maintenance. Instead the way to engage is through a sponsorship arrangement.”

Ms Gallagher admitted her opinion of the giant balloon has changed over time and she now “sees the balloon as one Canberrans will remember for a long time now I have had the chance to admire her in her natural habitat.”

When asked by opposition leader Jeremy Hanson how she knew the balloon was a “her”, Ms Gallagher replied “Well Mr Hanson, you have a look at the Skywhale…I presume it’s a girl.”