Page 2191 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 June 1990
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MR MOORE: Since the Chief Minister is now talking about common courtesy, I point out that I sought to make a prepared speech - one of the few speeches that I had actually typed - - -
Mr Kaine: You will get a chance to deliver it when it is on the agenda for discussion.
MR MOORE: It was on the agenda. Notice was given to me by the whip and I had prepared a speech. The Chief Minister's response, in claiming that there is hypocrisy on this side of the house, is ironic, especially when he also talks about common courtesy. He has shown no common courtesy whatsoever; he does not know the meaning of the words "common courtesy". As for his accusations of hypocrisy, he really ought to look in a mirror and try to determine just where those hypocrisies lie.
On the question of allowing me the opportunity to make my prepared speech, I must say that I even went to the trouble of pointing out that I was prepared to let it go if I had an assurance that I could speak on the Priorities Review Board report tomorrow. I am sure the whip will confirm that. This is clearly a case where the Government was not prepared to extend that common courtesy to another member of the house. That was particularly important in this case because our two months' recess is coming up and the Priorities Review Board report is really not going to have very much meaning when we start bringing down the budget and so forth. We might refer to it, but the chance to make a major statement on it will, in effect, be lost. Therefore, there is some reason to wish to do it at this particular time.
So for the Chief Minister to talk about common courtesy is really ironic, and for him to talk about hypocrisy is also ironic. He referred to members on this side of the house as hypocrites, but the fact that he has still not called on Mr Duby to resign, for example, is of course hypocritical on his part.
With reference to the suspension of the standing orders to enable the Chief Minister to present his paper, on this occasion I will once again support the Government. But, as far as the common courtesy that the Chief Minister keeps talking about is concerned, I would certainly appreciate it if he would extend that courtesy, at least to me and perhaps to Mr Stevenson. He is waiting to speak, so I will shut up. If he would also extend that courtesy to the Opposition that would be fine, but in this case I am more concerned with myself. I would greatly appreciate such courtesy.
MR STEVENSON (3.37): Ministerial statements are important. We certainly should allow Ministers the right to make them, and I would rather that was done at any time other than during questions without notice. I am loath to suggest that Ministers do not make them, and I think they should be
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