Page 4740 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 28 November 1990
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MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (3.07): Mr Speaker, I am constantly confounded at the absolute pettiness of these people opposite. It never occurs to them that events could occur that are of great interest to this community. When the Minister makes his statement, as he truly will, you, Mr "Small Mind", will find that it is a matter of great interest to the community.
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: there was a personal imputation against me then by the Chief Minister.
MR SPEAKER: Order! If we are that thin-skinned, we will never get anywhere in this chamber.
Mr Berry: We are very thin-skinned, caring and considerate.
MR SPEAKER: I overrule your objection.
MR KAINE: The fact is, Mr Speaker, that the events that have occurred within the last two to three hours are such that in the view of the Government they required a ministerial statement on this matter to be made at the first opportunity.
It is a matter of great importance to the people of Tuggeranong. It is a matter of major importance; but, if these people on the opposite side of the house do not want the Minister to make a statement, he can resolve the matter very satisfactorily by simply putting out a media release and talking to the media so that the message gets out there to the people who need to know. If that is what their view is, if they do not want it debated here, if they do not want the opportunity to debate it, I, for one, am only too happy to accommodate them; but there is information that needs to be made known to the people of Tuggeranong. It needs to be made known now, because it is a matter of great concern to them, but I am quite happy to play the game any way that Mr Berry wants.
He can decline to allow the Minister to make the statement. He can continue to play his cheap political games. That is fine. But we will inform the people of Tuggeranong, whether with his support or without it. I do not care either way. As I say, I am constantly confounded at how petty this man can be. He carries on like this day after day. He mumbles away through every debate. He takes points of order countlessly, none of which in the last three months have been determined as having any substance whatsoever. It is merely a delaying tactic. It is merely to prove that Mr Berry is macho when it comes to the political scene. He is not macho; he is a mouse. He has no political clout whatsoever. He can do everything that he likes to delay the business of the Government. He will not succeed in preventing the Government going about its legitimate business, no matter how small-minded and petty he chooses to be.
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