Page 671 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 July 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
But let me make another objection to this select committee being set up. I am very happy to serve on these committees. It has been an enormously rewarding experience for me. Even in the brief time, I have learnt an enormous amount. It has been of great value to me. But I do not want to go into a committee with people who have preconceived ideas. I do not imagine that Mr Stefaniak will change his views. I do not know who will represent the Rally, but I think that its views are now so well expressed that it will not vary them.
Mr Humphries: And yours are not?
MR WOOD: I have made no public statement about this. My views have not been expressed. I have concerns on each side but what is the value of a committee if it is to come back with preconceived ideas? I will tell you this: We are about to sit down in the committee that looked at tertiary amalgamations. We have had a marvellous exercise out there. I repeat that it has been educational. As we write the report, I wonder to what extent our ideas have been modified. Have we changed our views? What is to be the result of that? So, as we establish select committees, let us learn from our experience, which is still very brief, and see to it that the committees will not simply case in concrete something that is already in our background of thinking. Let us see that if we have a committee system it comes up with a genuine consensus, demonstrating that we are capable of modifying our views.
I suspect on this one that all we are doing is deferring the debate for three weeks, or more than that - it will not be three weeks. In that case, why not discuss it now? I am pleased to see my Chief Minister's reference. If we go into this debate, let us go down the track and look at some of the deeper issues behind the move to bring in move-on powers. Let us look at some of those more significant features that can be hidden, but let us not have the farce of a select committee. Let us have the real debate now. Let us do it today because that is what we planned to do. It would save my valuable time and your valuable time. We can still consult the community and look at the deep issues involved. So I suggest that is the way we need to be going. I do not think this select committee would be one of the more successful ventures of this Assembly.
MR HUMPHRIES (11.05): Mr Speaker, I have to rise in this debate to support Mr Collaery's motion and indicate that I can see nothing but hypocrisy coming from the Government on these questions. I am very disappointed to hear people like Mr Wood and the Chief Minister make statements which, in my view, simply are not consistent with their behaviour and the behaviour of the Government previously in this place. The Chief Minister has said that it is too soon to expect a committee to report back by 25 July, that in some way we are stifling - - -
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .