Page 2298 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 June 1990
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resignation, just as he accepted Mrs Nolan's resignation. If, as I suspect, Mr Duby lacked sufficient integrity to offer his resignation, he should have been sacked. He should still be sacked.
Mr Speaker, this Government does lack integrity, it lacks credibility and its members have demonstrated their extreme hypocrisy in more ways than Mr Stevenson's narrow focus. How can the community have any confidence in a Liberal leader who campaigned for a "government you can afford", when he cuts education, health and services, increases rates and decreases jobs in every area of government service?
It is a government that Canberra cannot afford. The damage done by this Government is far more deep-seated than any individual stupid decision, although there have been a few of them. It is reflected in a growing cynicism by the public and a slow corruption of the standards of public life.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to say that I accept that Mr Kaine's rag-tag coalition gives him the numbers to continue in government, and we have quite obviously seen the ranks closing around him today, but I call on Mr Kaine and every member of his Government to show, albeit somewhat belatedly, the integrity and honesty that the people of Canberra deserve.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (3.17): Mr Speaker, I have listened very carefully to the comments that have been made in this debate today over a period of more than three hours. I think I am somewhat of an introspective person and when somebody develops an opinion of me such as has been expressed in this motion I feel obliged to consider carefully whether that view is justified.
I have been listening very carefully today to both sides of the argument to see whether there is indeed any truth or any justification in this. I notice, Mr Speaker, that the Leader of the Opposition again, having fired her barbs, disappears from the floor and is not interested in my rebuttal. She does not want to know about it, yet she talks about integrity and uses other words that I will go into later.
As opposed to the opinions expressed by my political opponents, I feel absolutely compelled to set out, not expressions of opinion but a few basic facts. The proposer of the original motion is rapidly gaining the reputation around the city of being somewhat of a resident Jeremiah. Nevertheless, I believe that he feels himself honestly justified in the motion that he put forward. I understand the reasons why he has put forward this motion and I believe that he is quite honest about that.
But the disturbing thing is that this motion is being supported by a Labor opposition still writhing from the
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