Page 585 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 1990
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much difference what we say about it, but it is nice once again to have flushed out the lazy Government members opposite.
MR WHALAN (5.22): The person I feel sorry for is Robyn Nolan because Mrs Nolan has got the job of trying to be the whip for a government that does not want to do anything. When it does decide to try to do something, it stuffs it up and then, at the last minute, changes its mind. Whenever Robyn comes down to talk to us about the program of business, she says, "Well, look, to be quite honest, I'm not quite sure what they're going to say about this". So we have to go through a process of talking about it again and again and again because - - -
Mr Kaine: That is when she can find you there to talk to.
MR WHALAN: Well, last Thursday, when I offered to meet with Robyn she said, "Don't make it Thursday. It has to be Friday because I haven't been told what they've decided". We tried to make a meeting on Thursday and she said she would not be available. Friday morning she would not be available; she was not going to be told until Friday afternoon. I feel sorry for Robyn in those circumstances. It makes her job very difficult because there are no clear guidelines, those that there are are likely to change at any time and the divisions within the Government will have an impact on the order of business as it comes up.
I think that Mr Wood made a very good point when he said that this question of the divisions means that no-one will leave for fear of what the others will say while he or she is absent. So they all have got to be there, looking over each others' shoulders all the time to make sure they get it clear. If you look at the statements in relation to the point raised by Mr Moore, the classic contradictions between Trevor Kaine and Bernard Collaery in relation to that particular matter, there is manifest evidence - - -
Mr Collaery: I raise a point of order. This member is not addressing the subject at hand. This member opposite did not attend the matter of public importance on the Canberra - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Collaery. A point of order addresses the standing order number and a few words taken from the text.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I would draw your attention to the standing orders relating to relevance in the matters before the Assembly.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Collaery. Your point of order is overruled. Please proceed, Mr Whalan.
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, Mr Kaine mentioned something about the Federal election and I regard the Federal election as being of fundamental importance to the future of Australia,
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