Page 757 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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fact, the words he used would apply very well to Mrs Grassby because that is exactly what has happened here. Where is self-government left if people are allowed to rise in this place or elsewhere and make claims without any substance or foundation, alarm others - in this case particularly poor people, people with particular needs in our community, people who might not be able to find accommodation elsewhere - and get away with it? What recourse is there? There is only one recourse, and that is properly expressed horror in this place at what that kind of activity represents. I think it is Mrs Grassby who wanted this place to be the object of a motion of censure, not Mr Collaery.
Ms Follett referred to dorothy dixers. I am astonished by this claim made by Ms Follett from time to time. Does she pretend that there were no dorothy dixers when she was Chief Minister; that her Ministers never received dorothy dixers from Mr Wood? Sometimes I wish I were in opposition; I wish I could ask Ms Follett, as a Minister, whether that had ever happened. The answer is that of course it has happened. There is no shame in dorothy dixers, as she well knows, because she used them frequently when she was in government.
Mr Speaker, I think that this is a sorry affair; it has reflected badly on the whole Assembly. Let us not pretend that this debate is going to reflect on either side very well. It angers me that people should use the institution of this Assembly and at the same time the principle of self-government in this shameless fashion. I regret the fact that, as a result - and this is only one factor, I suppose - politicians in this place are going to be held in low regard by the citizens of this Territory. We have only ourselves to blame when this kind of fiasco goes on.
I think it would be better if people did not make claims they could not substantiate; if they did not necessarily drag the hopes and aspirations of Territorians through the mud for the sake of winning a few political points. We should get down to the real business of this governing this Territory for the benefit of all the citizens of it.
MR MOORE (3.47): Mr Speaker, when I read the tabled letter on Mrs Grassby, I must admit I was quite concerned that such a letter, which had no relevance whatsoever to the statement that Mr Collaery had made, could possibly have been tabled, giving the impression that Mrs Grassby was doing something inappropriate or corrupt. I should not have been particularly surprised because, from my long knowledge of Mr Collaery, I should have been aware that he is, after all, "character assassination Collaery". It is appropriate that we censure Mr Collaery at this time.
I refer to Mr Humphries' comment that this will reflect badly on this Assembly. It will. The responsibility for the whole of this business lies fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the current Attorney-General and for that
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