Page 2442 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 7 August 1990
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initiated by the supposed Leader of the Opposition, who, having spoken her vexatious words, has left the Assembly as usual and is not here to - - -
Mr Kaine: She should seek leave. We do not know where she is. We had better have an application for leave.
MR DUBY: Yes, where is her leave of absence from the business of the Assembly? I think this is an outrageous method of behaviour of the Labor Opposition. It has been pointed out already that when Mrs Grassby opposite was engaged in an overseas trip, for which I think the reasons pertaining to leave were extraordinarily tenuous, leave was granted without demur by all members of the Assembly after she had already left the shores of Australia and was in California. I might point out that House of Representatives Practice specifies that leave is usually granted for reasons such as parliamentary or public business overseas or ill-health. I do not really know how Mrs Grassby managed to fit into that category last time, but I was happy to support that application for leave. Why should not Mrs Grassby, or any other member for that matter, choose to defray themselves from the business of the Assembly for a short time?
However, more to the point, I should add that there is no question in my mind that the Speaker is currently attending a conference overseas for reasons such as parliamentary or public business. There is no dispute about that. The imputation made by Mr Connolly, that the Speaker may not be at the CPA conference, he may be somewhere else, I think is quite outrageous.
Mr Connolly: No, the implication was that he did not have the authority of this branch.
Mr Kaine: Parliamentary procedure does not say that he has to have it.
MR DUBY: That is right. The Leader of the Opposition's implication or statement that he had not advised members of this Assembly that he would be going there on their behalf is, as are most of her statements, patently untrue. I have here a circular that was circulated by the Speaker to all members. It is dated 13 July 1990. I shall read it:
On 2 July, 1990 the acting Clerk wrote to all Party Leaders on my behalf seeking nominations for a delegate to attend the forthcoming Ninth Australian and Pacific Regional Parliamentary Seminar in Rarotonga and Sydney from 5 - 18 August 1990.
As no nominations had been received by the time of the CPA meeting (10 July '90), I contacted those party leaders who were not at the meeting. No nominations were forthcoming. Therefore, as the only member nominated, I will be attending the
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