Page 747 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 July 1989
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MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (10.34): I have been taken unawares by this motion, but I believe that there is some merit in it, in that it would provide Mr Collaery with the opportunity to substantiate some of the things that he has been saying.
Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I understand that we had a motion for the suspension of so much of the standing orders as would allow Mr Collaery to speak. I do not recall anything about Mr Kaine speaking.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for trying to direct the floor, Mr Moore. The objection is overruled. Proceed, Mr Kaine.
MR KAINE: I understood that we were speaking on the suspension, and my purpose is to support the suspension of standing orders to allow Mr Collaery to say whatever it is he deems it necessary to say. I had intended to seek leave to make a personal statement this morning on the basis that, by implication, I was involved in some comments that Mr Collaery made on radio this morning in terms of motions of no confidence in the Government and the like, and I had intended to seek leave to make a few statements on that matter, but perhaps this is the opportunity to do so. Let us be quite clear that the Liberal Party in opposition will press the Government and challenge the Government at every opportunity. When the time is right we will attempt to - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Please speak to the motion, Mr Kaine. We are talking to the motion to give Mr Collaery time to speak.
MR KAINE: Yes, I understand that. We will challenge the Government when the opportunity arises, but we will not do it on the basis of personal attack against any individual, whether inside this house or outside it. We will do so on the basis of the performance of the Government and on that basis alone.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Kaine, please speak to the motion before the house. We are speaking of Mr Collaery, not of the desires of the Opposition.
MR KAINE: Well, I thought that I was attempting to do that, Mr Speaker. The purpose of this motion is to suspend standing orders to allow Mr Collaery to justify, as I understand it, some of the things that he has been saying in this house. I, as leader of the Liberal Opposition, would be happy if Mr Collaery has evidence to support the assertions that he has been making. I would be delighted to have him place it on the table so that we can clarify the matter once and for all.
I think that to continue any longer with allowing any member of this house - and I am not confining my remarks exclusively to Mr Collaery - to make unsubstantiated allegations, to indulge in innuendo about either members of
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