Page 204 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Humphries continues to repeat that nonsense about where the ALP in the ACT stands on school closures, I will continue to refute it.
Once again, we see that in large measure the arguments that we raise here are winning by default, because once again we have failed to get members on the other side of the house up to speak on education. It is not the first time; it has happened over and over again. There is no support for Mr Humphries from his backbench. Someone said a minute ago that the ALP heads were down. We will have a look across at the other side. There is no support from the government back bench for Mr Humphries, nor is there any support from the front bench for Mr Humphries.
Mr Duby: That is not true.
MR WOOD: I was waiting. Remember that when I stood up a moment ago I did not rush, because I am closing this debate. I did not rush; I was waiting for Mr Collaery.
Mr Collaery: You looked at me.
MR WOOD: Yes, I was waiting for you to jump to your feet because I thought you might - - -
Mr Collaery: I have stated my position endless times.
MR WOOD: But you did not jump to your feet. I thought you might get up, and I wondered whether you would give the outline of the argument you had with Mr Duby. I wondered whether you would want to go down the path of repeating the reasons, which you never made public, for gagging the chief education officer. I wondered whether that would be an interesting part of this debate. You can raise it in the adjournment debate tonight, or we will give you leave after my closing the debate to make some comment about that, if you wish, because I think it says a lot about the administration of Mr Humphries that I have been talking about that Mr Collaery came in and overrode the Acting Minister for Education on the question of what the chief education officer was allowed, or not allowed, to say.
Mr Duby: He did no such thing.
MR WOOD: You were not very happy at the time, Mr Duby, as I remember it. You had some harsh words to say. I thought you might get up, along with Mr Collaery. Obviously you are more inclined to defend Mr Humphries, because when he came back from his extended holiday he was fulsome in his praise for your administration.
Mr Duby: And rightfully so, too.
MR WOOD: Surprisingly so. I suggest that when you run your election campaign in a year's time you should write those comments on your election brochure. I do not know whether that will help you or hinder you, but I have no doubt that it will hinder Mr Humphries in the future.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .