Page 2491 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mr Jensen: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understood that Mr Berry was seeking to make a personal explanation because he had been defamed.
MR SPEAKER: You are incorrect in your understanding, Mr Jensen. Please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: I thank the Residents Rally for their leave to make this statement; it was most kind indeed. What I am disturbed about is that members of the community might be misled by some of the statements that have been made in respect of this matter. Very clearly, the Residents Rally set out to feather its nest and delivered promises to some of its employees which it could not live up to. It now seeks to blame somebody else if it is not able to provide the staff positions that it had previously promised.
There was no deal between the new Labor Government and the Residents Rally about the provision of staff. We have always been sympathetic to their complaints on the matter, and I have to say, Mr Speaker, that there have been many complaints from the Residents Rally. Nothing has changed.
Mr Collaery: You take the money off working mothers. Why shouldn't they complain?
Ms Follett: I raise a point of order. Mr Speaker, on the off-chance that that observation of Mr Collaery's might have made it into Hansard, I ask that he withdraw it.
Mr Collaery: What? May I address this point of order, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Collaery.
Mr Collaery: This Labor Government is showing extraordinary sensitivity on this issue. Guilt is written all over their faces. Mr Speaker, that is not an unparliamentary remark and it should not have to be withdrawn. It is a normal interjection. I have the support of Ms Maher and my other colleagues on this side of the house, where democracy still prevails.
Ms Follett: May I address the point of order, Mr Speaker? Mr Collaery interjected that Mr Berry had taken the money out of the hands of working mothers. That is simply untrue and it is a quite scurrilous statement. It ought to be withdrawn.
MR SPEAKER: I do not believe that it is unparliamentary. Your objection is overruled, Chief Minister. Please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I might comment on that issue. How Mr Collaery arranges his staffing is a matter for Mr Collaery, not for anybody else. He has the salary cap. He has to arrange his own staffing levels. If he has to disappoint some of his own staff because he is unable to
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .