Page 557 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Question time is a vital aspect of that, as is the committee structure. The Opposition is exposed again for its failure, its petty failure, its immature approach to government. Mr Connolly wants to take on the defence. I suggest that he sit back in his right wing and not get himself sucked into these left wing, anarchical tactics that our fire brigade union member opposite has introduced into this chamber from his first day here.
MR CONNOLLY, by leave: Mr Speaker, this debate raises again an issue of great principle. Government members opposite have shown yet again their inability to address the issue of principle, and their continued return to grubby, ad hominem attacks. All the Government can do is spit out a stream of vituperation directed against Mr Berry, Mr Wood and me. It does not address the issue of great principle.
They suggest that we are not doing our work. They suggest, because they cannot raise their minds above these grubby little personal attacks, that we are in some way maligning Mr Jensen in his position. That is not the case. I stand in a similar position to Mr Berry in relation to the legal committee, which I would be quite happy to serve on. That committee is chaired by Mr Stefaniak. I in no way impugn Mr Stefaniak's credibility, his proper, conscientious devotion to his duties - - -
Mr Kaine: But you do impugn Mr Jensen's, and that is your problem.
MR CONNOLLY: Nor, indeed, do I impugn Mr Jensen's. But our point is that, because of their positions as Executive Deputies, they are placed in an intolerable position by chairing those committees. A parliamentary committee must be seen by the community to be divorced from the Executive.
We are not making grubby, personal attacks against Mr Jensen or Mr Stefaniak, because that is all that you can do on your front bench. That is all that you can understand of our point of principle. Our point of principle is that it is crucial for an Executive Deputy, with portfolio responsibilities, not to chair the committee with that area of responsibility. We would have no difficulty with Mr Jensen chairing another committee. I would have no difficulty in serving with Mr Stefaniak on any committee, or under his chairmanship on any committee; but not the committee in which he has this Executive Deputy role.
The Government has chosen to create this role of Executive Deputy. It goes out to the community and purports to hold this person out in an executive role, for example, in relation to the Calwell dispute, where the residents were most concerned. The Chief Minister does not go out and talk to these people. Mr Jensen goes out. He is the Government's spokesman on this issue. He is seen by the media as the person giving the Government line on planning matters. In saying that, I am not suggesting that Mr
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .