Page 2639 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 8 August 1990
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officer. Other than that I do not intend to make any other comments in view of the fact that the matter is otherwise sub judice.
On another tack, but on a similar element of privacy, I would like to state publicly my concern at some of the tactics of the Parents and Citizens Council, a council I used to be an honorary solicitor to. Mr Speaker, I note from a broadsheet issued today that there will be a vigil on Friday night outside my home in Brockman Street, Narrabundah.
Clearly, there is a proper democratic right to bring to the attention of members of this Assembly issues in the community, issues in the public interest, and quite properly the school closure issue is one of those. But I do remind the parents and citizens who are issuing these invitations and who ring us through the night of the fact that we have families. These people have their views, and it is not appropriate to take our wives, spouses, companions, partners and children into these contentious issues. I trust the P and Cs will see fit to consider their interests when and if they demonstrate outside and in and about our private homes.
Additionally, for good reasons and not for any avoidance of public consultative contact, I have a private number at home. The media have respected that for many months. There are very sound reasons why I have a private line. I very much regret that that private line was given out at a demonstration the other evening by a member of this Assembly. I think that was most unfair to my family. I was not there when the trouble started. I am sure Dr Kinloch shares similar concerns with me and shares the view that the pressures that can be brought on to us here, in and about the Assembly, are quite appropriate. We have broad shoulders and we maintain, as Dr Kinloch said, very substantive consultations. What Labor caucus in this country would allow community activists to come into the party room and present a point of view as we did to Frances Perkins? As I said, a turning point was her appearance in our party room when she conceded that at the commencement of the J-curve school savings are possible. I will say more about that when I get the chance.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 5.25 pm
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