Page 1083 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
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MR SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order.
Mr Connolly: The Chief Minister seems to have four or five pages that he is reading from.
MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. The length of the statement you may object to, but - - -
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I would like to make a point. Just as the Leader of the Opposition and other ex-Ministers when they were in government read from notes on matters of importance, so do the Ministers of this Government - and we will continue to do so. It is one way of ensuring that we give a comprehensive answer to a question. If Opposition members do not like comprehensive answers to questions, then perhaps they will not bother asking any questions and we can get on with the other business of this house.
The oversighting of the strategy process, of course, rests with the South East Economic Development Council which was jointly established by the Premier of New South Wales, Mr Greiner, and me some months ago. It is a peak advisory body which was established to advise the ACT and New South Wales governments on strategic matters affecting economic development in this region. Day-to-day management, of course, is vested in a committee of New South Wales and ACT government representatives that support that regional council.
I believe that we have taken the initiative in fostering this regional concept. I believe that it is in the interests of the ACT that we do so to exploit all of the economic and other advantages that exist in this region.
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: You indicated that we could raise the issue of the length of the reply. I draw your attention to this very long reply and the requirement that replies be concise. I think the Chief Minister ought to just table the papers.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your observation, but I do not believe that it is a valid point of order.
Mr Berry: With respect, Mr Speaker, the standing orders are clear on that matter - "shall be concise".
MR KAINE: Neither do I, Mr Speaker. I think that if we go back to the Hansard for when Mr Berry and his mates were in government we will find that there were some very long answers to some inconsequential questions. They established the pattern; they established the precedent. They have to live with the consequences of it.
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, have you concluded your statement?
MR KAINE: Yes, I think I have fully answered the question, Mr Speaker.
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