Page 3870 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 October 1990
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Mr Speaker, the big issue today has been how the leader, Mr Kaine, has been shown up for the extent to which he is prepared to take the dishonour of this Government in respect of his behaviour in this house. He has brought this Assembly into discredit across Australia because of his statements on national television, and he has refused to accept that he made those statements. He has refused to accept the absurdity of these statements, and he has blamed Mr Richard Carleton. If Mr Richard Carleton set out to make this Government look stupid by the people he interviewed, he certainly found fertile ground, and I do not think he could have done anything else, on the basis of the interviews that we saw. He may have interviewed other members of the Government, but it would have compounded the issue. I think it would have grown into something like the epic Gone With The Wind.
Nevertheless, Mr Carleton's exposure of Mr Kaine has been helpful, and it is a matter of record now that Mr Kaine has made the most absurd remarks in relation to the costing of Ministers in this place. But today also, Mr Speaker, has shown that there is a fragility in the Government, along with a willingness by the Chief Minister to peddle untruths in this place.
Mr Humphries: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I think Mr Berry is sailing perilously close to the wind. Certainly, his remarks have been highly offensive, and I think under standing order 57 they would probably be liable to be struck down. But certainly to suggest that someone has been peddling untruths is very close to saying that he has been telling lies.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Yes, I take your point there, Mr Humphries. Mr Berry, I advise you that if you have something like that you must move it as a substantive motion. I ask you to withdraw it.
MR BERRY: I withdraw that, Mr Speaker. Mr Kaine made untrue statements today in this house.
Members interjected.
MR SPEAKER: Order! The house will come to order. If you have the facts before you, you must move a substantive motion.
MR BERRY: I withdraw that, Mr Speaker. It has been shown today that the statements made by Mr Kaine cannot be reconciled with the record.
Mrs Grassby: Exactly; so they are untrue.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Grassby, please withdraw that comment.
Mrs Grassby: They are untrue. What he said compared with what was in the record is untrue.
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