Page 3148 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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MR COLLAERY: That was a Freudian slip.
Mr Speaker, this matter has been discussed at length with my leader, who has my complete confidence, and we have resolved to look at the structure of the committees to facilitate the involvement of the opposition during the recess period. My leader simply authorised me a few moments ago to say that, if members opposite want to disrupt this motion, we will put this agenda item off. It is simple. This is on for their benefit, not for ours.
The fact of the matter is that in our previous Assembly structure there was an opposition containing a number of parties. There is now an opposition which is largely composed of one party. In that respect, the reduction in some of the committees to a membership of three - of course, some of the committee structures and membership remain exactly the same, a point not drawn out, I note, in recent press - in an Assembly of 17 is hardly a reduction that affects the democratic process and puts open and consultative government at risk. Open and consultative government takes place, firstly, on this floor and in the actions of this alliance Government, and this alliance Government can be judged by its actions and its performance and not by the petty details put out, apparently, by the Leader of the Opposition.
The reconstitution of the committees will take place early next year, as you know, Mr Speaker. The fact is that today's exercise is simply an interim measure, until January, over the short period of the larger break so that the opposition can get itself organised and into the committees. As you know, Mr Speaker, Mr Bill Wood performed sterling service across a whole range of standing and select committees. Now, the problem that faces us with a situation where we are unable to secure reasoned response from the opposition is that in our proposed amendments we have left Mr Wood in a variety of committees, simply because we have not received instructions from the opposition as to whom they would prefer there. In one particular committee there is a choice between Mr Wood and Mr Moore.
Mr Speaker, the facts of the matter are that Mrs Nolan and Mr Jensen went to see Mr Whalan yesterday, and those discussions were aimed at bringing into effect a cooperative agreement on committees. I am advised that Mrs Nolan rang back and spoke to Mr Whalan, who said that he was not happy with the amendment and would not discuss it. So, Mr Speaker, I believe that a disinclination to discuss the committee structure really reflects the attitude of a sore-headed opposition who are still adjusting to being on the other side of the house.
Contrary to the Leader of the Opposition's suggestions, there are no sinister motives behind the general reduction in the numbers of the committees. The reduction is a reaction to the fact that three of the parties in the
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