Page 959 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 March 1990
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It is far harder to do nothing or to show, if you like, statesmanlike behaviour. That is something that perhaps we do not see often in Australia.
I think perhaps the Federal Houses have given us an encouragement to carry on the way we do at times, and I do not think that is fortunate. Many people come along to this Assembly and they look at us as an example of how the leading lights, if you like, operate in Canberra. We have the opportunity to set an example second to none. We need to look at what we do and why we do it. We are all going to be working together for as long as we are here, so it will be far better if we get on well together. We will do a far better job and we will feel better about it.
I try not to get involved in these things, but I know it affects our general tone when we have this atmosphere. When some of us feel unable to remain out of it, let the rest of us at that time not get involved and maintain the standard. We should set a standard for people in Canberra. We had some scouts here earlier. I am very thankful that they left before this time. Fancy having them hear us calling each other names! How can we expect them to adopt the principles and be the sort of people we would expect of scouts if we do not do it ourselves.
In sport there have been many people who have set wonderful examples - the likes of Ken Rosewall in lawn tennis, and Don Bradman and other cricketers. We have also seen some terrible examples - John McEnroe and others at times that have set a terrible example that unfortunately is followed by others within the sport and others in their lives.
We have a senior responsibility. It is difficult to accept when someone is pushing your buttons, if you like, or when someone is saying things that you might disagree with, that you might even know are wrong. It is hard not to retaliate. Sometimes the retaliation is quite humorous, and that can be fine. But if we all try and help each other and maintain a standard that would make this house stand out among all others in Australia, I think it would benefit not only us but also our system and the people of Canberra.
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (10.59): Mr Speaker, I am rising for no other reason than to respond to the impassioned plea from Mr Wood for someone to deny quite categorically that tonight's scenario was orchestrated or that there had been a game plan to somehow refuse Mr Whalan access to this Assembly. I, for one, am only too pleased to rise and deny that accusation. I state categorically that there was no such plan of action, there was no conspiracy. Indeed, let the record show that when the call was taken, when Mr Whalan was named, I was out of the house and had no idea that such a situation would arise in so short a time.
Mr Jensen: So was I.
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