Page 750 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 July 1989
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MINISTERIAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE IMPROPRIETY
MR COLLAERY: The first issue I would like to raise at the commencement of what could be a mammoth debate, but I will be reasonable, is the basic premise behind the idea of the law in this state - that it serves the people, and not the people who administer it. In government, when these tacticians here who are seeking to better their position this morning and may regret it, these party machine people, realise that a model justice system is based on fundamental democratic concepts and the public interest, they will support unreservedly the Rally's call for the last two years in this Territory for an independent commission against corruption. There was unanimous support for that issue in this chamber only recently, and what we see now is an attempt to bring the debate on early.
Well, the Rally will not resile from that. The Rally has said in that speech in Hansard that the prospects for government in this Territory will be greatly enhanced if we have a public service that has the confidence of the people and an assembly that also has confidence in itself - and this motion today, Mr Speaker, shows a signal lack of confidence. Here is an attempt by the Government to bring on an issue to seek to turn this chamber into some court of law where, by tactics, one seeks to have the prosecution advance its case before the defence has spoken.
In fact, what they are doing is really reversing the traditional roles in the community. The traditional roles are of course that people are given an opportunity to speak to their case. That is the proper and credible thing for the members opposite me to do if they are concerned about issues of corruption raised by the Residents Rally, about issues raised about contracts in this Territory and about fundamental issues such as whether the Chief Minister will give an assurance to this house that she has confidence in a certain situation.
The question asked without notice of the Chief Minister the other day was whether she would indicate to the house that she had confidence in one of her ministerial colleagues. She has not answered that yet, Mr Speaker.
Ms Follett: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I have not been asked such a question, and I put to you that it is not relevant to the issue that Mr Collaery has been given leave by this house to speak on.
Mrs Grassby: Put up or shut up.
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I believe there is no situation of relevance in this case. Mr Colleary has been given open slather.
MR COLLAERY : Mr Speaker, I heard the word "shut up" come from the Minister for Housing and Urban Services.
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