Page 3356 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 18 September 1990
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say. They will claim this precedent as their precedent, and they will reject the precedent of which Mr Moore has spoken.
I see no reason for that to bind this Government. I intend to do what every other government does in this country, and that is, elect to the committee a majority of members of the Assembly reflecting the views of the Government. That will not in any way impinge on the capacity of the committee to conduct a very proper inquiry. Those from the Opposition who sit on that inquiry will have every opportunity to ask questions; even those who are not sitting on the committee will have every opportunity to ask questions.
I am afraid there is no opportunity - not that I would wish it - for us to escape those questions or to cover up or not be asked those questions. We will be facing the full force of the questioning of those opposite, every one of them, and I look forward, as I have said before, to justifying the basis on which the Government has brought forward its figures in this budget. There is no concern about that.
This is an appropriate course of action. This motion is an appropriate motion. It is the same motion you would see anywhere else in this country and in any other parliamentary situation, and I see no reason to apologise for it. It is what will be the case, I am sure, as the permanent precedent in this place for many years to come.
MR CONNOLLY (8.44): Mr Speaker, the cynicism of the Alliance Government on this issue is breathtaking. Last year, in the first full sitting year of this new, small Assembly, the precedent was clearly set with the support, both of the then minority Government and of the Opposition, that all members of this Assembly could take part in the Estimates Committee. This is fulfilling the highest traditions of what an Estimates Committee is for, which is an opportunity for the legislature to put under scrutiny the Executive's proposals for the spending of public money for the forthcoming year. The precedent established last year, which was supported by Ms Follett, as Chief Minister, and enthusiastically supported by Mr Kaine, was that all members serve on that committee.
I went to Hansard to see what was said in that debate, but I must give Mr Kaine credit for great foresight here. He kept his mouth very firmly closed on that occasion. He was offered the chance to speak to the motion, but he declined the opportunity.
Mr Kaine: I am a lot smarter than you give me credit for.
MR CONNOLLY: On this occasion you certainly were. So, I am not able to quote any reasons for Mr Kaine's support on that occasion for all members serving on that committee, but it is clear that that is what he supported. He moved an amendment to the motion to that effect. That precedent
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