Page 2820 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 August 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR BERRY: The fact of the matter is that this Government, and particularly these Ministers along the front row here, are responsible for ripping the guts out of our education system. And you particularly, Mr Kaine, you who said that education standards in this Territory would decline, are heading up the attack on our education system. You are attacking our education system. You said it would decline and you are trying to make sure that it happens. You have admitted that it would decline throughout Canberra. The fact of the matter is that you are in charge of the decline of education in this Territory.
Mr Kaine: I raise a point of order. That allegation was made last week and I refuted it, and I want it withdrawn.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Mr Berry, I think that was made last week and the Chief Minister made a personal explanation, so perhaps if you - - -
MR BERRY: I think that the Chief Minister used unparliamentary language. He said that I had lied.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Are you taking a point of order too? I am sure the Chief Minister will withdraw that if you withdraw yours. So perhaps if you would both like to withdraw those comments.
Mr Moore: Withdraw what?
Mr Kaine: He knows well enough what I want withdrawn. He made an assertion which was made last week by Mrs Grassby and which I refuted.
Mr Moore: I raise a point of order. There is a correct procedure if he feels he has been misinformed, if there has been misinformation.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: I will just take advice on that. I am advised by the Clerk that the matter Mr Berry raised which the Chief Minister refuted in a personal explanation last week - and I accept what the Chief Minister said there - apparently is not a point of order, and the Chief Minister would have to refute it again. It seems a rather strange procedure to me.
Mr Kaine: Why do I have to continue to refute such allegations? It is a lie and you know it is a lie.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: I do not know, Chief Minister. I have been given that advice. I think it is somewhat ridiculous myself. I think it is repetitious and a waste of time and I would ask members to exercise a little bit of commonsense because I think it is rather ludicrous if we have to keep getting the same personal explanation week in week out.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .