Page 2056 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 25 October 1989
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MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (12.30): Thank you for that ruling, Mr Speaker. I do find it rather ironic that the Residents Rally party should once again try to gag debate on a very fundamental issue which is before this Assembly. It is quite extraordinary that Mr Collaery, who presents himself as the champion of democracy and the champion of free speech, should try to prevent debate on this crucial item of legislation which is before the Assembly.
One of the interesting things I find is the relationship between the points which were raised by Mr Collaery and this particular issue. When Mr Collaery was quoting from the briefing document of the Treasury he referred to the issues which were raised. One of those issues, under C, is that the Bill nullifies the contract arrangements which are shams and merely entered into to obscure employee-employer relationships in order to avoid or to minimise payroll tax liability. It was this very point which I raised this morning on an earlier motion before this Assembly in relation to a contractual arrangement between the employees of members of the Assembly and their staff. Mr Collaery has repeatedly said that my comments were an attack on consultants. That is a lie.
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; this man is not placed to call me a liar, and I ask him to withdraw it.
MR SPEAKER: Please withdraw the statement, Deputy Chief Minister.
MR WHALAN: I did not call Mr Collaery a liar, but if he has attracted that designation to himself I withdraw it. If he feels guilty then he knows his own guilt. Mr Speaker, the point is that in relation to my comments this morning - - -
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; that was a qualified withdrawal. We do not want to slip into the sessions of the past in this Assembly. Mr Whalan has set the tone today again. We do not know what sort of night he had, but certainly he has come into this chamber today in his old mood. I ask, Mr Speaker, that he be instructed to make a full withdrawal of that statement.
MR SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, would you make a full withdrawal of the statement referring to Mr Collaery in the manner you did.
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, the remark which I made - I will just clarify it and then I will withdraw it - was, "That is a lie". I said that was a lie and in fact it was a lie, but I withdraw it.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you.
MR WHALAN: Now, in relation to this I must say, Mr Speaker, that the journalist who is sitting in the gallery
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