Page 4952 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Until we accept responsibility, we will not have the dignity that people suggest they require. I think the public has an expectation of something different and it is unfortunate that it does not receive it. It is unfortunate that the public has become used to hearing of problems in the Assembly caused by people conducting themselves in an unparliamentary manner. Dignity cannot be maintained in this Assembly by the Speaker and the Government, whoever the Government is, unless the other people in the house act accordingly.
There was a point in our last sitting where apparently Mr Humphries gained an agreement with Mr Berry that the Labor Party would not move any motion. The Labor Party did not move any motion. I voted with members on this side of the house on the day because I had not been approached to give any agreement. I thought it was fitting to make the point, and make the point strongly, that, if members of the Alliance make an agreement with other members of parliament in this Assembly for certain things, it should be done with all relevant members, not just those who happen to be in the Labor Party. Perhaps that could be noted, and, in future, the matter could be looked upon. Who knows, there may be yet another case where it could be important that agreement from all members of the house was obtained. So, as far as the matter of public importance goes, it cannot be directed at any particular person or group. The responsibility has been, currently is, and always will remain with every member in this Assembly.
MR MOORE (4.43): Mr Speaker, it was my intention to make a personal explanation, but since there is a little bit of time left at the end of the debate I might use the debate to do so. I think it is important to point out that, if there is going to be a certain amount of dignity in this Assembly, and it is to be maintained, then one has to be careful about what precedents one sets in the Assembly.
It was certainly my intention to draw that to your attention when I moved from my desk to next to Mr Berry's desk. In the bottom of his drawer was a particular poster which the Canberra Times had illustrated and published at one stage, with the title, "House of Farce". And my conduct in moving there and showing that poster to you and to the single member - or perhaps two people in the gallery - was to illustrate that a precedent had indeed been set, and that you were in no position to name me. For Mr Jensen to say that he saw me stumbling up and down the gallery is misleading this Assembly, because it is simply not true. Previously we saw Dr Kinloch, who walked from where he sits right down to in front of the gallery, and then right up to in front of the desk of the Leader of the Opposition, and, certainly, that was a totally inadequate and inappropriate way to act. He certainly ought to have been named.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .