Page 3176 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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community where all women and children can live free from the threat of violence within their own home. Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the Assembly.
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General) (4.35), in reply: Mr Speaker, I rise to thank the members for their comments. Once again, I say with regret that I do not thank the Leader of the Opposition for her typical premeditated and snide personal attacks. It has become a feature of Ms Follett's form of response that she makes snide personal comments and leaves the chamber. She has done it again.
The fact of the matter is, on the advice of my law office, that the first draft of this legislation was available on 16 November 1989. Members are well aware that that was only a matter of days before Ms Follett went out of government. And if one examines the Hansard, one reason why she went out of government is her slothful approach to matters of this nature. Certainly, that was constantly one of my comments, and I will say why it was one of my comments to the house. It is because on this side of the house there are two people, and perhaps three - but certainly not as a prosecutor - who have been actively involved - - - (Quorum formed)
Mr Speaker, I was referring to the script from which the Leader of the Opposition usually works. She is not known for extempore speeches in this chamber. We do not know whether she is capable of them, but certainly the thing that makes her comments worse, and continually affects the standard in this Assembly, is the - - -
Mr Connolly: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: These childlike remarks are hardly relevant to the question whether the house should or should not pass this important piece of legislation. Ms Maher spoke to the legislation. I would ask the Attorney to speak to the legislation.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, Mr Connolly, for your observation. Mr Collaery, please speak to the point.
MR COLLAERY: Certainly, Mr Speaker. The point was that the Leader of the Opposition referred to me as a thoroughly discredited Attorney-General and, with respect, I am entitled, Mr Speaker, to respond to that.
MR SPEAKER: Order! I would submit to you that that is a matter of personal explanation, rather than a continuation of the debate on the issue.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Speaker, with respect, I may make that personal explanation during the debate, and I propose to do so. I said earlier that Ms Follett had a prepared statement which involved a personal attack on the Government's performance and me in particular. I respond to that by saying that the facts reveal that she had her first draft days before she was put out of government. The matter came before the Alliance Government Cabinet some
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