Page 1341 - Week 05 - Thursday, 26 April 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR KAINE (Chief Minister), by leave: I have not prepared a formal response to Mr Whalan's statement. I had no idea, of course, of the kinds of things that he would say, but I would like to say from the outset that it is a matter of personal regret on my part that Mr Whalan has found it necessary to leave this Assembly.
From his outline of the history leading up to the establishment of this first Assembly last year it is obvious to all how deeply he was involved over a number of years in all the things leading up to the establishment of this Assembly. I would have to say that as long as almost 10 years ago Mr Whalan was firmly committed, as many of us were and remain, to the concept of self-government. He played a very persistent role over those years and was fortunate perhaps to be in a position where he could exert some considerable influence on the outcome. I think that his role in those years leading up to self-government should be placed on record and should be acknowledged.
Paul came to the Assembly with the other 16 of us a year ago with high aspirations for self-government. He had been committed to it for years - I know he remains committed to it - and he had high hopes for this Assembly to become an institution of some repute and some integrity. During the seven months that he has been here - or eight months, I guess it is now - he has approached the job with determination, with commitment and with great energy. Those attributes are characteristic of the man in whatever he undertakes.
As a Minister of the Follett Government, admittedly the first Government, I believe he demonstrated, his great competence as an administrator and he attacked most vigorously the tasks of the office as he saw them. I have not always agreed with Paul as to his assessment of what should be done or how to go about doing it. That is part of the political scene, I suppose, and it is part of being friends. One does not always agree with everything that other people do or the way they perceive the world.
I acknowledge his great personal commitment to making this new self-governing Territory work. In his seven months in office as a Minister he achieved a great deal. In my view, he has continued to function most effectively in opposition as well. Some of my colleagues on this side of the house will probably agree that he has been the most effective Labor member in opposition. I believe that to be true; I think that others on this side of the house believe it to be true. He has been particularly aggressive and his approach has not always met with the approval of other members of the Assembly. There have been occasions of personal acrimony which are regrettable, and I hope that this is a facet of the early politics of this Assembly that is now history and will not be repeated. I think it is most regrettable that this had to occur, even in the first months of this organisation's being.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .