Page 2998 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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volume of work that passes across the desks of Ministers. I know that we, in this Government, spend a lot of time here after hours and on weekends. I wonder whether those opposite ever found that necessary. I suspect that they did.
Mr Speaker, I think it is worth repeating what the Deputy Chief Minister said when he spoke on this matter yesterday. He said:
Although this resolution will be carried, let me make it very clear that the prerogative for the appointment of Ministers and for the nature and style of those appointments lies with ... the Chief Minister. It may well be that one or two Executive Deputies are given ministerial statutory powers without increased material resources by way of accommodation or personal staff ...
Ms Follett said that in Mr Collaery's remarks there was no reference to the question of resources. That is obviously untrue. Ms Follett has misrepresented the situation, and this is evidence that the Deputy Chief Minister did raise that matter. I accept that there are problems with the timing of such a motion. It will certainly cause problems, but it may be that there is never a good time to move a motion of this kind. Perhaps we should accept that and state what we believe ought to be done rather than argue about whether it is an appropriate time.
I finally want to say that those opposite have speculated on whether this Government might fill 10 ministries. I cannot say whether that would happen - it is highly unlikely - but I can take comfort from one fact, and that is that if we need to fill 10 ministries with competent, capable people we can, unlike those opposite.
MR STEVENSON (3.49): With regard to a fifth ministry for this Assembly, I am sure the people of Canberra would not mind if there was not going to be any extra cost. No cost, no problem. However, if there is going to be a cost it certainly is not okay. I note that Mr Duby is nodding and Mr Collaery is nodding. Mr Jensen, would you like to nod as well?
Mr Jensen: No worries.
MR STEVENSON: We have most of the Alliance in agreement that there will not be an extra cost.
Mr Humphries: You have got the numbers, Dennis. You have got the numbers.
MR STEVENSON: Yes, that is right, we have the numbers. So if there is no extra cost there will be absolutely no problem. I have done a limited survey of people in Canberra. I did not feel I needed to conduct one of our usual surveys. I think it is fairly obvious that people do not want extra money spent on a fifth ministry.
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