Page 1723 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 May 1990
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indeed, and would lead anyone to the conclusion that Mr Duby is positively blushproof and is convinced that he is here only until 1992 and is determined to make the most of it in the meantime.
We cannot let pass the fact that this was Mr Duby's second offence in a short period. It calls into question both his respect for the law and his fitness for office. The law requires that a second offence within five years be treated very seriously. The magistrate has no option but to cancel the offender's licence. So we have a Minister for transport who does not hold a drivers licence; he has had his licence cancelled.
It puts the onus on offenders to show that they are fit to return to the road. Again I quote the Canberra Times, which said that a second offence within five years reveals that a person has not learnt his or her lesson, has a disrespect for the law or has a continuing problem with mixing drinking and driving. It went on to say that one offence makes him unfit to be a Minister for transport; two offences make him unfit to be a Minister for anything. That is the view of the public. No matter what sphere you move in at the moment, that is universally the view that has been put in relation to Mr Duby.
His failure to resign should be the last chapter in a sorry tale. He began in this place as a no self-government member; he has progressed now to a no self-drive member, and his failure to resign shows that he has ended up with absolutely no self-respect. Because he refuses to resign, it is now incumbent upon Mr Kaine to dismiss him as a Minister. Mr Kaine can have no credibility when he accepts the resignation of Mrs Nolan as an Executive Deputy but takes no action whatsoever in relation to Mr Duby.
The Chief Minister must realise that Mr Duby's continuing presence in his ministry only helps to achieve the no self-government platform on which Mr Duby originally stood. I am sure Mr Duby is aware of that. His continued presence in the ministry taints Mr Kaine's Government, discredits this Assembly, and fundamentally undermines the process of government.
MR STEVENSON (8.52): Mr Speaker, this matter is about propriety. While Mr Duby was in a position of authority as a member of parliament he refused to obey the law. Having been charged with an offence, he refused to submit to a breath analysis. This takes it out of the area of being a simple offence to one of authority and respect or no respect for authority.
It is one thing to commit an offence as a member of the public; it is altogether another thing to commit an offence while being a member of parliament. These things are seen to be different in our society. Members of parliament, along with members of the judiciary and the police force, are held to have a different and higher responsibility.
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