Page 4226 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 20 November 1990
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Nonetheless I must take into account that the office of minister of the Crown places upon a person holding it very heavy responsibilities ... particularly where public money is concerned.
Five of the 13 counts involved money in the order of or less than $200. Considering this precedent, have you received from the Deputy Chief Minister, or have you requested, the refund of the inappropriately acquitted basic equipment allowance of $180 which was made public through the Estimates Committee?
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I must say that I am appalled at the imputation in the question. I would have thought that Mr Moore might have been a bit more careful in his approach to such matters. In specific answer to his question, I know of no impropriety, no illegality. As was said to the Estimates Committee - and Mr Moore is well aware of it - the Minister acquitted his allowances in the manner in which he was advised to do by the Administration.
If there is any problem with it, it is that he reacted to advice by the department which may or may not be incorrect. I have no advice that it is. But I think that any imputation that the Minister has committed a criminal offence ought to be promptly withdrawn, Mr Speaker.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question. With reference to the quite clearly set out separately basic equipment allowance of $180 that is appropriate to public servants, although it is clearly not appropriate to an elected person - nowhere is it set out that such an allowance is appropriate and therefore, unlike the rest of the acquittal which is difficult to adjust, it is - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Moore, you are making a statement. That is not a question. If you have something of this nature that you wish to move as a substantive motion, you should do so, and I would ask you - - -
MR MOORE: I am asking a question, Mr Speaker. Will you, Chief Minister, accept that the basic equipment allowance, which is clearly set aside as $180, which is clearly inappropriate for a Minister to have, is different and that the matter should be resolved quickly?
MR KAINE: I have not the faintest idea what Mr Moore is talking about. He obviously has information that is not available to me. If he cares to take it up with me I will look at it; but I am not going to respond to some imputation of illegality from a man like Michael Moore.
Mr Moore: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I believe that the Chief Minister,s comment was an imputation and I ask him to withdraw it now. I asked a quite appropriate question. He said "illegal from a man like Michael Moore". It is appropriate that he withdraw that.
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