Page 2214 - Week 07 - Thursday, 6 June 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
and I have no doubt that, whatever happens today, they will continue to keep us in their sights. However, Mr Deputy Speaker, they may well find us a much more elusive target than would at first appear.
When the Federal Labor Government prepared the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act they gave us a form of government which was ill-suited to the ACT's needs. We have a Westminster style, executive led Assembly, which is characterised by a time-wasting adversarial system. The Rally's preference for a collegiate or council style of government was torpedoed right at the beginning. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, that aim for a community assembly may well be achieved. Otherwise, Mr Deputy Speaker, it could well be a tragedy for Canberra. Nonetheless, we have endeavoured to make a positive contribution to this Assembly, both in government and in opposition. We have insisted on many occasions that the views of the community should be taken into account, including during the schools closure debate last year and, conversely, when Ms Follett was Chief Minister and was planning to sack teachers.
When my colleague Bernard Collaery was Deputy Chief Minister he was able to commence a process of much needed reform in the social justice area - reform that would have done a Labor government proud. The Rally has the skills to ensure that the Territory has not only responsible government but government that can achieve a program of legislation and social reform. I note that Mr Kaine made some comments today about the fine role that my colleague Mr Collaery has played in that area.
We must recall, Mr Deputy Speaker, that Mr Humphries and Mr Kaine were quite happy to take extended holidays earlier this year, leaving the entire Territory in the capable hands of Mr Collaery and Mr Duby. Mr Collaery has clearly demonstrated that he is quite capable of taking hard decisions when they are required, as he had to do many times with police matters, welfare issues, Housing Trust disputes and so on.
It is unfortunate, Mr Deputy Speaker, that the career of this Minister has been cut short by a Chief Minister who was not prepared to hand the letter of dismissal to Mr Collaery face to face. Even John Kerr was prepared to hand the letter of dismissal directly to Gough Whitlam.
The Kaine led Government could have pulled back from a crash-through approach and listened to the point of view of the Rally. Unfortunately, this was not to be - and the rest, as they say, is history. Mr Kaine was not even prepared to give Mr Collaery an opportunity to resign. Mr Kaine was wondering, surprisingly, this morning, why Mr Collaery would not approach him directly. I really do not think that that comment warrants a further response.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .