Page 2228 - Week 07 - Thursday, 6 June 1991
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My decision in supporting this no-confidence motion - which I am going to do - is best illustrated, I think, by looking at the paper entitled "Alliance Government - Major Achievements" that has been tabled. I am not saying that this document made my decision; it did not. I have only just seen it and I had made my decision last night. This decision is most aptly illustrated by opening up to nearly the last page where it says, "Bills introduced and passed by the Alliance Government". The Bills were introduced, and sometimes pushed through, by the Alliance Government; but what it should have read was, "Bills introduced by the Alliance Government and passed by this Assembly". It is this Assembly that is the body holding the power here. It is the critical factor. By the way, while I am on that "Major Achievements" document, there are many important achievements that have been made, and many of those issues I have supported.
The critical path that we have now with a minority government is that we can debate the issues. It is an appropriate time to take personalities out of it - as much as possible, because it is probably not possible to do so entirely - and to concentrate on the issues as much as we possibly can. I have made my decision because I believe that, on the issues that affect Canberra most, Canberra people will be better off having a Labor government under Rosemary Follett as Chief Minister.
MRS NOLAN (5.41): Mr Speaker, today in this debate we have heard much about who should be Chief Minister and who should govern this Territory. I must say that, since the former Deputy Chief Minister was sacked early last week, much speculation has been put forward by many people - many, I hate to say, pursuing their own egos rather than what is best for Canberra. I am not sure this afternoon that the Rally members even know why they are supporting this no-confidence motion. Perhaps it is that they are still hurting - or Mr Collaery is still hurting because he was sacked last week as Deputy Chief Minister.
Mr Collaery: That is why we appointed David Read to do the negotiations.
MRS NOLAN: I certainly have not heard anything this afternoon that gives me any reasons at all as to why the Rally should be supporting a no-confidence motion this afternoon. But they have decided that that is the path they are going to go down. I must say that I wish Rosemary Follett well, because five minutes after they decide to go one way they could perhaps go the other.
The one thing I do need to say is that on this motion this afternoon it appears that people have made their decisions on the way they will vote without necessarily taking into account the view of the community or giving any consideration to the people. Again, it has been about self-interest and their own egos. We have not heard much about what would be best for Canberra. We have certainly
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