Page 2843 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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which was commented on by the Government Law Office in providing the ruling to your deputy some days ago.
Mr Berry and his colleagues know full well that the self-government Act takes precedence over our standing orders. To do otherwise would clearly act outside the law and be open to challenge. I have no doubt, Mr Speaker, that there are some people out there who would take the opportunity to seek to halt these proceedings legally.
In summary, Mr Berry and those who are with him on this issue have created a great furphy. They have made no attempt during the debate on the standing orders or their proposed Bill to make any constructive suggestions to the Government as to what it should do to return economic rationality to the Territory. They have fallen like vultures on every issue to do with education.
Mr Berry: Relevance, again. Relevance, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: I overrule that objection. Please proceed, Mr Collaery.
MR COLLAERY: In introducing these proposed amendments to standing orders, the Labor Party members have never revealed their policy for school closures. They have never got on the band wagon and explained their policy for school closures.
Mr Berry: Relevance.
MR SPEAKER: Order! A point of order from Mr Berry on relevance. Please get to the point, Mr Collaery.
Mr Kaine: That is quite relevant. He talked about making it unlawful to close a school. He raised the question of schools. It is therefore relevant.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Please proceed, Mr Collaery.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Speaker, I have made clear to the Assembly the legal points of which I have been advised by the Law Office. It would clearly be improper to pass this standing order. It would breach section 65 of the self-government Act. This is a waste of time, and I look forward to debate on the real substance of the matter, if they let us debate school closures; they have not been game, to date.
MR CONNOLLY (10.54): I will be brief in this debate. The Opposition is very keen to debate the Bill on school closures because it is very keen to see how government members will vote. I am sure that those present in the gallery from, I believe, the Holder school are also interested to see how members will vote on closing their school. I welcome them here this morning.
The motion before the house is to change the standing orders. This is a very important and substantive motion.
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