Page 1672 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 May 1990
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that should be carried to encourage Mr Kaine to properly manage his Ministers and sack those who are irresponsible.
Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member is not debating the standing orders suspension; he is debating another matter altogether.
MR BERRY: Sit down. I am trying to tell you why it should not be carried.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, relevance is an issue. Please proceed to the point being debated.
MR BERRY: The relevance, of course, Mr Speaker, is whether or not the motion ought to be carried. It should not be carried because it is about this Government dodging its responsibility to wear censure motions when they become necessary and to have them debated.
Mr Speaker, I refer you and members opposite to page 340 of House of Representatives Practice. At the same time, I refer members to the standing orders, which of course rely to a certain extent on House of Representatives Practice. They might relate that practice to the behaviour of the Government members opposite. On any interpretation, House of Representatives Practice has set out on page 340 the most crucial motions which a government has to consider. They are those which involve censure. This Government is clearly running away from that. Its members have stood in the way of every move this afternoon to bring to the attention of the community in Canberra a serious flaw in the ability of the Government opposite to manage the affairs of this Territory - that is, that a Minister has been convicted twice - - -
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; he is debating a substantive motion and not the motion to hand.
MR BERRY: There is no substantive motion - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! The point is overruled.
MR BERRY: One of their ministerial numbers, who has committed a serious criminal offence, remains in office and is responsible for the management - - -
Mr Kaine: You have been poorly advised by your colleague behind you, I suppose.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR BERRY: They are getting edgy and fidgety, and no wonder - they are very nervous. I cannot say that I blame them because they are in deep trouble up to their ears and, of course, they are trying to dodge it.
Mr Speaker, this motion must not be carried if this Assembly is going to have any credibility in the community,
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