Page 696 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 July 1989
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measure. I think that we should pay tribute to the people who worked so hard before this Assembly took office on producing the standing orders which have served us reasonably well in the periods that we have been meeting so far.
I am surprised also because, Mr Speaker, before this Assembly took office I wrote to the leaders of all parties, including Mr Collaery, suggesting a number of amendments to the standing orders, all of which were aimed at facilitating debate, reducing undue formality within this Assembly and, in general, making it operate in a much more equal way which would give every member an opportunity to participate fully, but I have yet to receive a response from the leaders of other parties on any of those matters.
Finally though, Mr Speaker - I will be brief - if Mr Collaery is truly concerned about the standing orders and is concerned to refer matters to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedures and is prepared to abide by that standing committee's findings, then we have not seen a very adequate demonstration of that fact this morning when he sought, within 12 hours of that committee having decided on an issue, to turn the tables and do something completely different.
So, I fear to say it, but I think he is being somewhat disingenuous in raising these matters in the way that he has. Mr Speaker, if Mr Collaery took the trouble even now to read the standing orders as they currently exist I believe that he would see that this motion is totally unnecessary. Standing order 16(a) - I refer him to it - indicates that the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedures already has the power and the authority to inquire into any number of matters, including the standing orders of the Assembly. It has that power. Let us not waste time in dealing with motions here that are not necessary.
MR HUMPHRIES (12.25): Mr Speaker, I indicate that I have no disagreement with anything that Mr Collaery has said about the standing orders today. It was certainly appropriate. I have not referred to the particular standing orders to which he refers in his motion, but I am sure they are ones that need to be addressed. Indeed, my party has a number of areas that it wishes to be addressed. I am also aware of the letter to which the Chief Minister has referred, in which she raised a number of issues that need to be addressed in the area of reform of our standing orders.
But I must indicate that the Liberal Party is concerned about the proposal Mr Collaery puts up to refer these matters to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedures. I am concerned because, as I am sure Mr Collaery must be aware, a representative of the Residents Rally sits on that committee, and the matters to which he has referred in this motion have already been addressed, or
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