Page 3127 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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Thursday, 14 December 1989
__________________________
MR SPEAKER (Mr Prowse) took the chair at 10.30 am and read the prayer.
SUSPENSION OF TEMPORARY ORDER
MR JENSEN (10.30): Mr Speaker, I move:
That temporary order 272 be suspended for this sitting.
Mr Speaker, the Government has not taken the decision to move the suspension of standing order 272 lightly. I will outline a number of factors which have influenced the Government in taking this action. Firstly, the behaviour of members of the opposition last Thursday, when they sought to disrupt government business, was such that it could be seen to bring the Assembly into disrepute. It would be irresponsible for the Government not to seek to prevent a repeat performance from the opposition. This applies in particular to the activities of Mr Whalan, who some may have seen described last week as the "Darth Vader of the Assembly".
Secondly, the Follett Government had the luxury of three full sitting weeks at the beginning of its term during which only Ministers could suspend standing orders. We only propose to ensure that stability and decorum are maintained in these early days of the new Government in an attempt to lift the standard of behaviour within the Assembly.
Finally, Mr Speaker, today's proceedings are intended to deal with certain necessary procedural matters. It is important that these changes take place with a minimum of disruption. However, let me say that yesterday the initial reaction by the opposition, particularly in relation to the changes to the committees required by the change of government, did not augur well. The signs were there for a possible repeat of last week's unruly behaviour by the opposition. Last week we allowed the opposition considerable leeway. However, when the opposition sought to abuse that privilege, we moved decisively to bring the Assembly to order. Members of the opposition will no doubt have noted that this motion only amends this particular standing order for today's proceedings.
Mr Speaker, the way the opposition conducts itself today and in the future will determine whether the Government will return the power to suspend standing orders only to a Minister, as was initially the case when the Assembly first sat in May this year.
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