Page 1979 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 24 October 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
My departmental people walk out and say, "You know, Minister, I don't think they have even looked at those Bills". I say, "I can tell you they haven't". Now they want us to explain it all to them. You look into the gallery at times and you see all their staff sitting there. Why are they not up there doing some work for them? That is what they are there for.
Mr Kaine: Whose staff is sitting in the gallery now, I might ask, Minister?
MRS GRASSBY: I might tell you. None of mine. I am sorry; one of mine is sitting in the gallery. I apologise. My senior private secretary is sitting in the gallery. I apologise, Mr Speaker.
Mr Stevenson: When you have so many, you can afford a few in different places.
MRS GRASSBY: Mr Stevenson, I have - - -
Mr Stevenson: Lost for words?
MRS GRASSBY: No, I am not lost for words. Never, Mr Stevenson. Never will I be lost for words. My parents said when I was born that I was inoculated with a gramophone needle, so do not ever say I am lost for words, Mr Stevenson, because that is a slur on my background.
Mr Jensen: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I know that this is a very entertaining debate but, please, can the Minister keep to the point and not talk about gramophone needles, for goodness sake?
Mr Stevenson: That was the point.
MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Please proceed, Minister.
MRS GRASSBY: I tell you what, Mr Stevenson, you are getting sharp; you really are. As I said to Mr Duby the other day, "Just because you have a pointed head it does not mean to say you are sharp". But, never mind, Mr Stevenson, I can handle it; I really can. Do not worry about that.
Mr Kaine: Don't you worry about that.
MRS GRASSBY: No, don't you worry about that. Mr Speaker, if the opposition members cannot do their work and they really cannot manage, maybe we can help them do it, maybe we can write their speeches, maybe we can sort out their Bills. If this is what we have to do to get this house working then, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to get my staff to do it.
MR MOORE (5.03): It was a very entertaining speech indeed by the Minister, but it is a pity she did not say anything.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .