Page 2939 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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committees which would make even this Assembly seem to be relatively lazy. I have worked with many presidents of the Students Association, and I was very impressed not least by his sense of order, his calmness under pressure, and his ability, frankly, to work with sometimes contentious and difficult people. That was so then; it is so now.
Similarly, he has shown all those same qualities in this Assembly, first in opposition and then in his multiple ministerial roles. I join, therefore, with Mr Wood in recognising many of those qualities: Mr Humphries' determination, his courage, and his respect for facing up to the people. I want to say, with great respect and admiration, that, whether it is a broadcast, a public meeting or a group of people outside here - in any forum - Mr Humphries is willing to stand up and be counted for what he believes.
One of his first educational roles in this Assembly was on a three-person select committee, of which I was chairman, together with Bill Wood. I know Gary's interest in and concern for educational issues. He continues to have that very great concern for tertiary education, which is part of his portfolio. Tertiary education is part of the work done by the division of education.
To come to two charges made against him by Mr Wood, I do not believe for a moment that Mr Humphries has "destructive vision". You and I may have other visions or different visions, or may disagree with elements of his vision, but I think it not true to say that he has a destructive vision - quite the contrary. Nor is he dishonest. I have never known him do anything or say anything dishonest, certainly not in connection with anything I have had anything to do with. I repudiate those charges.
Now let us come to the present debates on health, education and the arts. I will concentrate, for obvious reasons, on education and the arts. Mr Humphries behaves with great propriety on the issues which are debated in private and in public, and Mr Wood has also acknowledged this. I want to take the area of the joint party room. Now we are bound, are we not, not to say everything that goes on there, but let me give a general view of that. In those meetings, which are sometimes very long and very contentious - and he has to deal with difficult people like me, I hasten to say - Mr Humphries always keeps very cool and calm, as he does in this Assembly. He speaks carefully, and thoughtfully in the JPR on the issues for which he is responsible. He has arranged briefings for his colleagues in every area for which he is responsible, and it is always clear that he has taken time to brief himself before those gatherings. I especially commend him on his good staff work, and the work of the staff who obviously back him up.
I recognise, obviously, that Mr Humphries and I have differences of opinion on a number of matters. Let that be said. You all acknowledge it. But I wish to stress that
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