Page 1531 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991
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yesterday, I have already asked the members of the public service to consider alternative proposals. Until those proposals come to the Government and until the Government considers them and informs everybody what its view is, there will be speculation. Individual members of the Government and the community will, no doubt, be pushing their own particular pet projects.
On that particular issue, I just note that the Government has recently announced its intention to build a new civic centre right next to the Griffin Centre. Work has already begun on the forward planning for that and I do not see moving that or any part of it to the North Building or any other location as being an option at the moment. We have given a commitment to our community groups to build a new facility for them adjacent to the Griffin Centre.
However, in fairness, I think I should say that the joint party room of the present Government is an open forum for debate. There are, in fact, three political groups within it. There are different views about what should happen on every topic that comes before us. Until it is debated there, and in the Cabinet room, there will be different views. I accept that. If it comes to a question of differences of view, of course, I do not think that our position is any different to that of the Labor Opposition. I am well aware of the fact that within their Caucus meetings there are differences of view, as one would expect in a Labor Party that is almost evenly divided between the Left and the Right, and with one unaligned member. I am sure you have some interesting debates in there about all sorts of issues, just as we do in the joint party room.
I am not critical of that. I think it is healthy debate and it is healthy debate in the context of our joint party room as well. While I do not agree with Mr Collaery on that issue, he belongs to a particular political group that has its own views on development projects and he expresses them - - -
Mr Berry: How weak.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Berry!
MR KAINE: It is not weak at all. I suppose you go to water in your party room and do not put your views strongly. That is clearly nonsense. As I was saying, while members of our joint party room have different views, when it comes to a final discussion and a final decision on the matter, members of the joint party room will be bound by whatever that decision is. In the meantime, members are entitled to, and I am sure will, express their views. I may well express a few views of my own during the next few days while we are developing a new approach to section 19 and the casino.
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