Page 70 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR WHALAN: I withdraw the reference to paranoia. I do not believe it is unparliamentary, quite frankly. I think it is quite an accurate medical description, but I withdraw it.
Mr Jensen: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I would suggest that the member is making a qualified withdrawal and in fact is impinging on your authority as the Speaker in this place.
MR SPEAKER: Objection overruled.
MR WHALAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. We would like to persevere with the motion that we have before the chamber at the moment, that we have question time at 2.30 this afternoon. At the same time, we undertake to discuss today with all the party leaders the question of an appropriate regular pattern of question time, with a view to trying to reach agreement on that. At this stage, we believe that it is best that today we go to that. The motion that I have moved relates only to today's proceedings. In that case, we would seek, during the day, to discuss it with the other parties and agree on a time that is acceptable to everybody. We would further amend the standing orders on that basis.
DR KINLOCH: Mr Speaker, I welcome that comment from the Deputy Chief Minister. I urge that in future there be consultation between the parties on matters like this before they get to the chamber. Clearly we want the very best arrangements. I can see the point in doing it today - that might solve the problem - and I would like to follow up on the thought that we now put it to a procedures committee to look at this matter.
Mr Whalan: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, and a point of clarification, I attempted, for three-quarters of an hour, to contact Mr Collaery. I asked one of his staff members to contact me. He declined to contact me. Eventually I contacted another member of the Rally and it was discussed. It was discussed with all the parties this morning, so I should like to make that quite clear.
Mr Jensen: Mr Speaker, I would like to give an explanation in relation to that. Yes, Mr Whalan did contact the Rally, but he did it 10 minutes before this Assembly was due to sit. Admittedly, he said he tried to contact us prior to that, but still to discuss it 10 minutes - even three-quarters of an hour - before the Assembly was due to sit, I suggest is inappropriate for a matter like this.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, the reason that I was unable to respond to Mr Whalan's call is that the Rally is still running its business from two offices, having been denied proper facilities to date. Last night, Mr Speaker, I was on the - - -
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .