Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for HUMAN SERVICES, Mr JAENSCH
The single biggest beneficiary of public funding in your portfolio is Catholic Care which, according to its most recent annual report, received more than $7 million in government funding last year. If the Catholic Church leadership in Tasmania continues to tell its priests they will be above the law do you agree the Government, that is your department, must review the allocation of public funds to its service delivery arm?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Greens for her question, but I do not know what she is doing, though. The Leader of the Greens has added the Catholic Church generally and globally to her list of things that she hates -
Ms O'Connor - I beg your pardon? I was baptised Catholic. Do not impugn me.
Madam SPEAKER - Order. We have about 30 seconds left.
Mr JAENSCH - including China, V8 super cars - which by the way run on ethanol these days - anything containing metal and then trying to draw the link to any form of contractual arrangements with this Government.
Ms O'CONNOR - Point of order, Madam Speaker. I take personal offence to the minister's statement that I hate the Catholic Church. That is untrue. It was a legitimate question about public funds being given to an organisation whose leadership is prepared to defy the law.
Madam SPEAKER - Mr Jaensch, I ask you to apologise for saying the member hates the Catholic Church.
Mr JAENSCH - Ms O'Connor may not hate the Catholic Church but she hates all the other things I listed, including China, V8 super cars, anything containing metal, people who eat meat, white men -
Ms O'CONNOR - Point of order, Madam Speaker. The minister needs to control himself.
Madam SPEAKER - Order. I am going to control everyone. The time for questions has expired.
