Page 1592 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991

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Motion (by Ms Follett) agreed to:

That the question be now put.

Question put:

That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Berry moving a motion of censure of the Chief Minister for not being present in the Chamber during the debate on this matter.

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 7  NOES, 10 

Mr Berry Mr Collaery
Mr Connolly Mr Duby
Ms Follett Mr Humphries
Mrs Grassby Mr Jensen
Mr Moore Mr Kaine
Mr Stevenson Dr Kinloch
Mr Wood Ms Maher
 Mrs Nolan
 Mr Prowse
 Mr Stefaniak

Question so resolved in the negative.

DR KINLOCH (5.45): Mr Moore, in his comments earlier today, praised Ron Owens in connection with another report, and I agree with every one of those comments in connection with not only Mr Owens but also the joint secretaries of these committees. We had one weekend meeting, one late night meeting, extra meetings specially called, and early morning meetings, and they both did a tremendous job. I want to note immediately that Mr Kaine has an important meeting in his office; these are ministerial duties. He was carrying out those duties during the time that members of the Opposition decided to abuse him. It was disgraceful. There was an attempt to censure him at a time when he was carrying out his duties.

I also note, in saying a particular "thank you" to the joint secretaries, that some members of our committees had particular problems. One member of the committees, Mrs Nolan, during this difficult week was trying to conclude three separate reports. We had had that kind of problem over the previous weeks. It did not help that members of the Labor Party were not in the committees to help us conclude them. They should have been there.

I now come to the question of whether or not it was proper for Mr Jensen to be on these committees, working on the committees and chairing the committees, and whether or not he was independent. I ask Opposition members simply to look at the report. If what you are going to say is that


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