Page 4168 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
proof is in the eating of the pudding, as it is said. Mr Berry has given us the proof that Mr Humphries has failed in his job to have adequate ambulances for the ACT services. As he has given all this proof, I do not think I need say very much. I think that Mr Humphries should be censured for the fact that he has not been able to provide them.
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (4.10): I wish to speak to Mrs Grassby's amendment. It is very unfortunate, Mr Speaker, that the Opposition should seek to do what they are doing today. I particularly want to indicate that, as far as Mrs Grassby's amendment is concerned, it is a very dangerous precedent. It certainly has been the case in the past that motions of censure have been turned around in certain circumstances. I am sure Mrs Grassby is well aware of the most famous example where that occurred when Mr Whitlam was sacked as Prime Minister. But the circumstances were exceptional.
I do no more than offer a word of warning to those opposite. If they wish to treat censure motions in this fashion, and in particular to refuse to admit an obvious untruth when it is brought to the attention of the chamber - so far in the entire hour of this debate on we have heard not one word why Mr Berry did not tell a lie; not a shred of evidence about his lie - if they choose to do that, they set a precedent which is going to come to our advantage in the future. It will be an advantage to people on this side of the chamber because one day, Mrs Grassby - I will admit it to you - you are going to have one of us on the ice. You are going to have us caught dead to rights. When you do, we will be entirely entitled to take the course of action that you have taken here today, that is, fail to admit the error and cover up. Now, if you want to do that, that is fine; we will play that game. But beware; you are setting a very dangerous precedent that will come home to roost.
Motion (by Mr Collaery) put:
That the question be now put.
A vote having been called for and the bells being rung -
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I should inform the house that Mr Duby is travelling and will not be present.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .