Page 3140 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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MR WHALAN (11.07): I probably would not have spoken on this except for the remarks made by Mr Collaery when he spoke on this particular matter. What Mr Collaery said, Mr Speaker, was in reference to whether the Government could work properly and correctly with the current opposition. I think that is a very important point that he has made there, because quite clearly this Government is acting improperly and incorrectly in relation to the operation of this Assembly and, therefore, by definition, it cannot act properly and correctly with the opposition. What we have seen is the unmitigated use of the gag. We have seen the destruction of democracy here today when Major Jensen moved his motion to deny members of the opposition the opportunity and removed the right to suspend standing orders.
Clearly, this is a dictatorial government. It is a dictatorial government going down the road which was so clearly demonstrated by my colleague Mr Wood. It is modelling itself on the Bjelke-Petersen Government in Queensland.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Whalan, please address the question before the house.
MR WHALAN: This reporting date, Mr Speaker, was one of the issues which was raised yesterday by Mrs Nolan when she came to see me.
Mr Kaine: When we did not consult with you on committees?
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs Grassby: You did not consult. You just handed us two pieces of paper and said, "That's it".
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR WHALAN: Mr Collaery just interjected about consultation, Mr Speaker. Let me tell you about the discussion that took place in relation to this. Robyn Nolan and Norman Jensen arrived down on the first floor and came into my office. I said, "Now what are we going to discuss?", and Mrs Nolan said to me, "We are not going to discuss anything". I wrote this down. I have got handwritten notes. She said, "We are not going to discuss anything. I am here to tell you what the executive decision is". Her exact words were, "We are not here to discuss anything. I am here to tell you what the executive decision is". Now, if that is consultation, then pigs will fly. This is again evidence of the adoption of the Bjelke-Petersen mode of government.
Bill Wood, who has experienced the Bjelke-Petersen Government in Queensland, can clearly see the tendencies developing. Among those important tendencies is the destruction of the rights of members of the Assembly. We have seen fundamental rights destroyed by the ruthless
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