Page 2992 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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folks. Do not think that two more ministries is going to mean two more ministerial salaries, two more lots of ministerial staff or two more ministerial Fairlanes. Do not worry about that - it may not cost you anything, as the Deputy Chief Minister said yesterday". If you think the community will believe that, you would think it will believe anything. But perhaps a government that thinks it can slash schools and hospitals and get re-elected really does believe the community is that stupid. You certainly treat it in that way. You will not reason with it on your decision on the most important issue before the community, school closures; you treat the community with contempt, so perhaps it is not surprising that you treat it with this ultimate contempt by deciding to increase your ministry by two on the day on which you vote to close the schools.
Mr Speaker, this is a decision that will truly haunt this Government until its dying day which, as we all know, will be the second Friday in February of 1992.
Mr Humphries: I think it is the third, actually.
MR CONNOLLY: Perhaps you will cling to power for another week, Mr Humphries. By that stage, it may not be six Ministers; it may indeed be 10 Ministers, assuming that Dr Kinloch remains with the Alliance until that date. Mr Speaker, this is a proposal for which the Government has totally failed to demonstrate a need. There is absolutely no justification for expanding the ministry at this time. Not only is it an intemperate and unnecessary proposal, but it is the ultimate exercise in political cynicism. On the day on which the vote was taken on the closure of schools, this Government decides to increase its ministry.
Mr Speaker, this is a decision and a proposal that treats the Canberra community with contempt, and the Canberra community will reciprocate heartily. It will have nothing but contempt for a government that wants to feather its own nest, get more snouts into the trough and slash schools and hospitals. Mr Speaker, the Opposition utterly opposes this unnecessary and cynical proposal.
MRS NOLAN (3.28): Mr Speaker, I feel that I have to speak very briefly today to this motion. I will be supporting the motion as it was part of the memorandum of understanding which I, as a member of the Alliance Government, signed in December. That is not to say that I consider it appropriate, especially in today's economic climate. I do not believe that it will be acted upon. I recognise that, even if the Federal Government amends the self-government Act, it is entirely up to the Chief Minister to do the appointing.
As I said a few minutes ago, Mr Speaker, I will be supporting the motion, honouring the memorandum document which I signed; however, I do not necessarily consider that it is either appropriate or being put forward at the appropriate time.
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