Page 69 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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They have been drawn up in anticipation of events that could unfold in this chamber. They have been drawn up, I believe, very well by public officials but with the certainty that this Assembly will modify them. Yesterday, we established a committee which will, among other things, look at the standing orders of the Assembly. I expect that in a very short time that committee will be assessing the work, the benefit, of all our standing orders. I think we need to understand that in the first days of the Assembly, while we are getting matters established, the sorts of events that we have today will not need to occur. We will not need to have huddles here while we sit and wonder what will happen. The committee can do that, but we need to take some steps. We want a question time, and we need to take some steps now to see that the proper processes of the Assembly carry on while these procedures are being established.
MR JENSEN: I propose the following amendment:
That all words after "standing order 74" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: "be retained until the matter is considered by the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedures".
MR WHALAN (Deputy Chief Minister): I wish to exercise the right of reply. I respond to both the amendment and the earlier discussion. Mr Speaker, it is absolutely outrageous for the Residents Rally people to suggest that this proposal does anything other than try to have consistency in the Assembly's deliberations. The purpose of setting the time at 2.30 was to give a certain consistency to the proceedings. To suggest that it was set in the afternoon to coincide, in some way, with the House of Representatives and Senate question times is quite extraordinary. To find some sinister motive there is quite extraordinary, and it is fairly typical of the paranoia that we have come to expect of these people over here.
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I would very much like this type of language to leave the chamber. Yesterday we heard words such as "clown", "mania" and "paranoia". Clearly there is a tactic to attack me as Leader of the Rally. In being forthright, Mr Speaker, I do not believe that it is appropriate for my Christian name to be used in this chamber the way it was yesterday constantly by the Deputy Chief Minister and for him to use this expression "paranoia" this morning. The Rally has made a businesslike observation. The Rally is very, very defensive in this chamber at the moment, Mr Speaker - - -
MR SPEAKER: Mr Collaery, please make your point of order.
Mr Collaery: The point of order is that the member should be asked to withdraw the word "paranoia".
MR SPEAKER: I would ask that the language be civil. Deputy Chief Minister, would you withdraw the comment, please.
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