Page 1971 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 24 October 1989
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MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR BERRY: I am sorry if that agitates you, Mr Stevenson, but that is something that you are going to have to live with.
Mr Stevenson: Do not get agitated; consult.
MR BERRY: The issue of consultation is one on which the Government bases itself. Mr Collaery would, of course, be aware of the opportunities that have been offered by other Ministers, and certainly by me, in relation to other matters, and so would the Liberal Party. I mean, there has been no end of opportunities for consultation on a whole range of issues. But what really has happened here is that Mr Humphries got himself hooked. He came out earlier talking about a censure motion, but he forgot to get the numbers right before he started. Away he went with his censure motion and now he has to do a bit of face-saving. Who comes to the rescue? The remnants of the Rally party. Here they are; the remnants of the Rally party come to the rescue to get Mr Humphries off the hook. We have this watered-down motion which, of course, is intended to save face. I understand why he would want to save face - - -
Mr Stevenson: I thought it was stronger.
MR BERRY: It just could not be delivered. You would probably support it, Dennis, but - - -
Mr Stevenson: There's no probability about it.
MR BERRY: There you go. So the real issue is about getting Mr Humphries off the hook, and I can understand why his party colleagues would want to do that. It is nice to see them united on this issue, with the historical knowledge of what occurred during the fluoride debate. But I think it is part of the process of this place that we can expect these sorts of muscle-flexing exercises by people from the conservative side of politics when they try to show themselves up as some sort of an alternative to the Labor Government. I think a sample of how they are accepted in the community is well demonstrated by the change of heart in the fluoride debate. I know that the continued mention of it causes some discomfort for many - - -
Mr Humphries: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I am gratified to have the Minister relive past episodes of Assembly history, but we are talking tonight about amendments to this motion before the chair, not to any other matters.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Humphries. Please proceed, Mr Berry.
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