Page 5223 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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so perhaps it says something about the Liberal Party attitude to the job. It is not just one Minister who is going away, and that is a rarity; it is two Ministers. Each will be away for that extended period. The problem is not simply doubled; it is compounded, many times over.
This raises an interesting question. We all knew that Mr Kaine was going away. That has been known for quite a long time. We knew it. I suppose members on that side of the house knew it and Mr Humphries knew it. But the question is this: did Mr Kaine know that Mr Humphries was going? Did Mr Humphries come to Mr Kaine and say, "Mr Kaine, Chief Minister, I am planning a visit to Paris. How do you think that is going to fit in with the Government's agenda and your plans?". Did Mr Humphries do that? It seems that he did not. We may get a denial here, and I would be most interested to hear it; but it seems that Mr Humphries acted on his own behalf. It seems like it is more of Mr Humphries' inept planning, once again.
Mr Humphries: It is not true.
MR WOOD: It is not true? Well, that is fine. In that case it is even more inept and incomprehensible because you knew what was going to happen; you knew that two Ministers would be away at the same time. I think that is worse. You knew it and you still went ahead with it.
Once again the Minister for Education has failed to appreciate what is needed in a situation. As he has demonstrated in the last year in education, he cannot assess a situation and respond accordingly. In the case of both Ministers, we seem to have a priority for personal interests over public duty. I suppose that, after the events of just a short time ago today, and the events of recent weeks, we should not be surprised at this. We should not be surprised at the farce that passes for government in this Territory, and that is what we have. We have a farce. I regret that because I am part of this parliament, though certainly not in the Government. Their actions, as the Government, are to the detriment of this Territory. Half the Cabinet is going to be away for six and seven weeks - half the Government. There will be no Cabinet meetings in that time.
Mr Humphries: Which will be great.
MR WOOD: Which will be great. Again you demonstrate your attitude to this. That is not the attitude that I have, or anybody on this side of the house has. What Mr Humphries does not seem to realise, in his ignorance, or his contempt, is that for seven weeks the Government of this Territory stops. There is no Government.
Mr Collaery: What utter nonsense. That is legally wrong.
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