Page 584 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 1990
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MR BERRY (5.18): No wonder the Government members opposite are getting a bit touchy about this issue, because the lazy Government opposite has been flushed out again. That is what it is all about. And they talk about consultation. Mr Jensen brings down the edicts issued on high, as they have always been issued to us opposite. They are issued in the form of a position from the Government. There is no consultation, there never has been, and it has been like that from day one. It is all about informing us what the Government will do, their executive decisions and that is the end of it. Norm has never presented it in any other way. He knew very well that when he spoke to both myself and Mr Moore on Friday the Labor Party's position would be established after the meeting.
The Labor Party's position is now becoming clear, much to the disquiet of the members opposite. We are strongly opposed to cutting out that important part of this Assembly's business to which members of the public can come. Of course, the Government is not in the least bit sorrowful about that because, after all, two of its Ministers are going to a function tonight, and it could not possibly operate without those two there. The two who are going would not be able to trust the mob left behind to carry out the business in their absence. They are either watching each other, holding each other's hands or holding the shield over their backs all the time.
This is an issue about a lazy Government which wants to have the night off, and which has never liked the night-time sittings of this Assembly. It has so often been put to the Labor team that Government members wish to get away from these sittings which they find quite boring. There is no doubt that there have been occasions in the past where, by agreement, the night-time sittings have been suspended but that decision has never been imposed on this Assembly before. That is what has been done by the lazy members opposite who do not trust each other.
One of the most interesting things about the behaviour of this Government has been the way in which it deals with members' business. I must say that I have some sympathy with Mr Whalan in dealing with the Government on this issue because of the arrogant way that the Executive's decisions in relation to the business of this house are relayed to the Opposition. At 5 o'clock on Friday the law is laid down and there is not much chance of reordering business. It was made very clear that this was an executive decision, and I am sure Mr Whalan will make it clear later on that that is the way that it has been put to him in the past.
Mr Speaker, it is unacceptable that this Assembly should rise before this evening's sitting and it is unacceptable that that should occur in this way. But it is most important that the matter is brought to the attention of those members who are in the gallery at the moment and the reasons for it are brought to their attention. On this side of the house, we know that it is not going to make
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