Page 3129 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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The Government has gone through proper processes, and it is not true to say that we have set democracy aside. That is not true either. It is another fine platitude; but it is not true. We have gone through the proper processes, first of all, of determining that schools needed to close and, secondly, of determining which ones. We went through a proper process of arriving at that conclusion. The Government - - -
Mr Berry: Nine of the people in this Assembly were opposed to school closures when they were elected.
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker!
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Berry, please!
MR KAINE: Having made its decision, which the Government is entitled to do, and I repeat that it is not true to say that - - -
Mr Berry: The majority. That is democracy.
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker!
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please; and Mr Berry, please desist. I warn you this time for interjecting. Please proceed, Chief Minister.
MR KAINE: It is not true to say that the Government made its decision without adequate information. It is not true to say that it made the decision with incomplete information. It is not true to say that the Government ignored the information that was before it. The Government has made reasoned decisions on this matter and it is simply untrue to assert otherwise. I know it suits you people seated opposite to keep saying that, because somehow you think it appeals to the electorate. It does not appeal to the thinking people in the electorate.
Mr Berry: School groups are unthinking, are they?
MR KAINE: You are absolutely right.
Mrs Grassby: School groups are unthinking, obviously.
MR KAINE: You are absolutely right. It does not appeal to those people who have properly thought through what the Government has done. We come to the point where the Government has made its decision. It has made a legitimate decision after having got the right information and after having considered that information.
There is still some disquiet in the community. I am not denying that. I understand that. I get phone calls every day; I get letters every day; I know there are some people who are still concerned about this decision. It is quite proper, then. And the basis for the concern in the community - - -
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