Page 4941 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
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which we in the Assembly have come to expect from an Opposition devoid of any real ability to be an objective and active Opposition in this place.
We clearly saw this during the budget debate when the so-called alternative Chief Minister and prospective Treasurer spoke no more than three times. I think I counted up. She spoke for a total of no more than 10 minutes during the budget debate.
Mr Connolly: Quality, not quantity, Norm.
Mr Berry: I take a point of order. My colleague Mr Connolly rightly interjects "quality, not quantity", and relevance, I think, is appropriate.
MR SPEAKER: I do not believe that is appropriate to the debate, Mr Jensen. Would you stick to the matter of dignity.
MR JENSEN: I take your ruling, Mr Speaker, but I think the dignity of the matter relates to the way that people handle themselves in this Assembly. We have seen today continuous interjections by Mr Berry. It is okay for people not to interrupt Mr Berry and he takes continuous points of order, but as soon as people - - -
Ms Follett: I raise a point of order. I think Mr Jensen quite clearly is making an adverse comment about your control of the house.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Jensen, would you please stop.
MR JENSEN: I am sorry, Mr Speaker. If at any stage it is thought that I am seeking to make some comment in relation to your handling of the house, as Ms Follett seems to be suggesting, clearly that is not the case. Once again this matter has been brought on by those opposite in an attempt to improve their image. However, once again, they have failed miserably. It has been suggested to me, in relation to decorum within a place like this, that one should be very concerned and never trust the left, because that in fact is - - -
Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, I take two points of order. Firstly, this is totally irrelevant and, secondly, any imputation that you could never trust a member of this Assembly is quite disorderly.
MR SPEAKER: I believe that there was an imputation there, Mr Jensen. Please withdraw the trust bit.
MR JENSEN: I withdraw. Clearly the people opposite are a little tetchy about the particular issue.
Ms Follett: I take a point of order. That is a qualified withdrawal.
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