Page 2344 - Week 08 - Friday, 21 June 1991
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MR MOORE (7.58): Mr Speaker, this afternoon and this evening, we have seen some very strange occurrences. I think the precedents that have been set tonight are quite extraordinary. The first one, and the most extraordinary one, is that a ballot that is understood to be a secret ballot can be revealed. That precedent has now been set by this Assembly, and it is a precedent that we ought to look at very carefully to see just what we have done. I think it was a most appalling motion put by Trevor Kaine.
I can understand the emotions that brought that about. It is ironic that the members of the Liberal Party chose to take their knives out and keep cutting at each other. I realise that they are approaching a preselection at this point; nevertheless, it is ironic. The temptation for me to race out and hold up any of the ballot papers and say, "Look, mine is red, or purple, or something" was also great; but I chose not to do that, because I said today that I would not comment on how I voted - and I still will not comment on how I voted in that particular ballot.
Mr Kaine: You did, Michael, publicly, on television.
MR MOORE: The ex-Chief Minister, Mr Kaine, now suggests that I did, publicly, on television. What I said on television - and I think you should go back and have a look at it - was quite clear. I did not say how I voted, and I left it at that. The reality is that a vote was held for the Leader of the Opposition, under a system with which you were very happy today, and because the result did not go your way you now think, "There must be something wrong with the system". I think that in some ways you are quite correct about there being something wrong with the system. Nevertheless, if that is the case, you have to look at these things first, weigh them up and assess the system.
Changing the standing orders because things have not gone your way is yet another precedent that has been set tonight. I think it is an appalling precedent which will have a wide-ranging effect on perceptions of this Assembly within the community. The only question for me to weigh up is whether that is going to bring about more disrepute than leaving the situation as it is. I think that is the situation that members such as I are presently weighing up. I will be very interested to hear the rest of your arguments so that I can make up my mind how I am going to vote on this particular motion.
MR HUMPHRIES (8.02): Mr Speaker, I will conclude the remarks I started before, to make some points that I think need to be made in the debate, particularly in response to Mr Duby's comments. Mr Duby said in his remarks that I had said earlier today that having lost a vote on the floor of the Assembly was undemocratic, or words to that effect. I did not say anything of the sort. What I have maintained at every stage - - -
Mr Collaery: You used the word "undemocratic".
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