Page 3183 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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There is another point. The sword of Damocles is currently being held above the people that work within the area of pornographic videos and, if not the people of Canberra, then certainly the people that are involved in that business should have the opportunity to gain certainty as soon as possible in what is going to happen to the business they are involved in. They made it well known that these things were not allowed.
In addition, there were changes made to the committee structure, which we all agree has been workable. Whether the changes are good or bad, I make no comment. They may be quite reasonable. The point I do comment on is that I did not know about them because I had no consultation on the matter.
I note, in looking through the information, that I have been nominated for a committee. Nobody asked me. Nobody wondered whether or not I was interested, whether that was where I felt my abilities would be best used. Many a time I have stood up in this Assembly and campaigned with members opposite for rights, for valid consultation, and I will continue to do so in the future. I hope that what has happened in the past week is not a portent of what might happen in the future.
Alliance Government
MR WHALAN (1.12): It is a tragedy; it is a further demonstration of the ruthless use of the numbers to deny members of the Assembly their rights. As a result of this motion to adjourn the proceedings, the opposition is prevented from raising in question time issues which are very, very important to the people of the ACT. It prevents the opposition from raising a matter of public importance when we have put it on notice. They are frightened, they are afraid, they are a terrified group of people. They are not prepared to allow themselves to be exposed to the proper scrutiny that is available to all parliaments in every democracy.
I think particularly important is the duplicity of Mrs Nolan when she refused to either confirm or deny - - -
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I ask that the member withdraw the word "duplicity" in reference to Mrs Nolan.
MR SPEAKER: I am afraid I did not hear the comment made. I would request the member to enlighten me as to just what was said.
MR WHALAN: Well, what Mrs Nolan had said, of course, was that she refused thrice before the cock crew.
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