Page 954 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 March 1990
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object to this behaviour, and a member of the Government moves that the person concerned be ejected, they take umbrage. In matters like this, Mr Moore is equally vocal - in fact, more vocal than the former members of the Government, because most of them go to water when the pressure is on. They even leave the chamber when there is a likelihood of any criticism whatsoever of their performance. In fact, they act somewhat like vipers: they dash into the house, they make their five-minute speech and then because somebody on this side of the house might attack them, they leave.
They seem to believe that it is perfectly acceptable for them to sit in their offices listening to the debate instead of being down here where the debate is going on. If that were an appropriate attitude, we might as well all go and sit in our offices and leave just one person here to speak. Then we could all get on with other things which we think are more important than sitting on the floor of the house. Because the behaviour of the members of the Opposition is so appalling and so reprehensible, their staff members take the cue. I seek a five-minute extension, Mr Speaker.
Leave not granted.
Motion (by Mr Collaery) agreed to:
That the Chief Minister be allowed five minutes to complete his speech.
MR KAINE: I do not intend to take much longer, but the fact is that the behaviour of the members opposite is so appalling and they set such a bad example that their staff think that they can act in the same way. The staff sit in the members' gallery and make threatening gestures to members on the floor. You, Mr Speaker, had occasion to have one of those members removed from the chamber for a period once before. I submit that on the basis of tonight's performance, not only that individual but also his mate should both be ousted under standing order 209. The only reason they do things like that is that the behaviour of the members opposite is so appalling the staff think it is normal.
Mr Berry: I raise a point of order. There is an imputation here about somebody's mate, and we would like to know who he is and who the mate is.
MR KAINE: I am quite happy to name both of them, if you like. One is Mr Webb and the other is Mr Hehir. Mr Webb is the person that I mentioned first; his mate is Mr Hehir. It is on the record, and I do not mind putting it there because their behaviour is just as appalling as yours and Mr Whalan's. Where is Mr Whalan? Mr Whalan is out for two days' suspension. Two days because of his repeated bad behaviour on the floor of this house. I think this has gone far enough. The Leader of the Opposition ought to get
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