Page 3028 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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events. He reminded us of the battle of Long Tan which indeed, as he said, was a significant event in Australia's history. I will take the opportunity to remark, on the last day of sittings in August 1990, that it was in August 1890 that the maritime strike began in Melbourne - the strike between merchant marine officers and their employers. It was as a direct consequence of that dispute that the Australian Labor Party was founded. Mr Speaker, this party has been around a lot longer than any other party. It will be around when the parties presently in government are long gone and forgotten.
Censure Motion
DR KINLOCH (5.31): Mr Speaker, I do not again wish to make mountains out of molehills, but there have been some very general statements about people on this side of the house not speaking to the censure motion. I certainly wish it to be recognised, and I hope that Hansard will demonstrate this, that Mr Humphries' reputation was very solidly supported from this side of the house.
Assembly Business
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (5.32), in reply: I began before and I apologise. I do not usually move the adjournment motion. The Deputy Chief Minister does that and I had overlooked the fact that I would be closing the debate. Just as I do not often move the adjournment motion, neither do I often speak to the adjournment motion; but, listening to the earlier comments, there are, I think, some things that need to be said.
First of all, the Opposition does act in a quite hypocritical manner quite often. Its own performance in this chamber, particularly as an opposition, is quite poor; yet it constantly attacks the Government for its performance. It is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black. I understand its chagrin because the Government is outperforming it, not only in opposition but also in what it did when it was in government.
We have had a few little complaints tonight about the way the Government deals with matters that are brought before it by the Opposition. If the Opposition took this house seriously and tried seriously to debate the issues instead of trying to distort, misrepresent and twist things, it would get a better reception. Its whole attitude seems to be, "Attack the individual, do not attack the issue". I will not say any more on that issue, but the members opposite might think about that a little bit.
Tonight the Leader of the Opposition has demonstrated her entire performance. She comes in; she makes a quite
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