Page 4937 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
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up the business of management of Government business. He ought not give it to Mr Jensen because he obviously cannot handle it. They ought to make sure that Mrs Nolan stays here all the time. Never let her out of the place. Put a manacle on her. Keep her in the place because she is the only one who understands how to deal with the Opposition members. All of you would have seen her moving around the chamber consulting with members on the Opposition benches. Mr Jensen could not even take the time to come over here and talk to us, except to threaten. The fact is that the Government's behaviour was outrageous. They abandoned the chamber. They paid the price for it, and they will pay again and again.
Now, Mr Speaker, I turn to the issue which I raised earlier in relation to your involvement in procedures here. For the record, Mr Speaker, I have to go over some of the old ground because it involves the outrageous behaviour of Dr Kinloch. It has to be said again and again because the performance of this chamber is a matter of public importance for the people of the ACT, not just now but well into the future. The performance of this chamber is a matter of significance for the people of the Territory. It is important that this Assembly recognise, although it seems slow to do so, that proper behaviour is required. Dr Kinloch seems to recognise, because he has apologised for it, that violent and angry behaviour is unacceptable in this place, particularly behaviour of the order which he displayed on 29 November. The odd thing about it, Mr Speaker, is that he does not seem to be able to convince you. We have in the standing orders, which Ms Follett has properly raised, provision to deal with people irrespective of their past performance in this place. There is provision for you to deal with members when they disrupt the proceedings of this Assembly in the way that Dr Kinloch did. You did it with the Chief Minister when he refused to accept your directions, but in the case of a much angrier display of violence from Dr Kinloch you took no notice.
Mr Speaker, I have to say that you deserve to be censured for those sorts of inactions, but we will not be able to do so because the Government has refused to give us leave to put that sort of a motion before this place. As I have said, it is a matter of public importance that this Assembly address this sort of behaviour. The behaviour of members in this Assembly will in future be a measure by which this Assembly is judged. It has been in the past. It is going to be up to you, Mr Speaker, and other Speakers who follow you to demonstrate to the people of the ACT that you are prepared to manage this place in a way which is acceptable to the community generally.
The Government members opposite do not seem to care what the community thinks of their behaviour; otherwise we would see so many outrageous outbursts of odd behaviour from time to time. Mr Jensen does not seem to care, or he just does not know how to deal with his position as Deputy Whip, although some blame must rest - I do not know how much he
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