Page 2685 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 1991
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Mr Speaker, on 6 June, a group of members in this Assembly tabled a self-government reform charter which called quite explicitly for independence for the Auditor-General. Ms Follett is on notice that a significant number of members in this Assembly - and she is in a minority government in that regard - wanted to see independence for the Auditor-General. I find it difficult to believe that she could not put her mind to the request of quite a number of members of this Assembly - it was publicised as well - that there be an independent role created for our Auditor-General.
To talk about advertising it for merit review and to leave the current Auditor-General up in the air is unsatisfactory even for a day. It is unsatisfactory because only today - and probably tomorrow - I was about to move a motion to refer an action of the Follett Labor ministry in paying certain air fares for a member to the Auditor-General for investigation. That followed a decision by the Speaker that he would not take the issue on. That motion to refer it is in my papers here now.
Ms Follett: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That is surely a reflection on the Speaker.
MR COLLAERY: Not at all. Just sit down and take your medicine - through you, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: I do not accept that as a problem, Ms Follett. He was making the point that I did in fact make that statement today. That is valid. I stand by my decision.
MR COLLAERY: The fact is, Mr Speaker, that I am anxious to move a motion that the action of Ms Follett and her ministry in paying that sum of money for Mr Moore's air fares be thoroughly investigated by the Auditor-General, if not the Australian Federal Police, because we have seen similar investigations under way in Tasmania - - -
Mr Connolly: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Collaery says that a matter should be investigated by the Australian Federal Police. He is clearly making an imputation of criminal conduct on the part of Ms Follett and all the members of her ministry. The reflection against you was a far less serious matter than a direct imputation of criminal conduct. His call for an investigation by the Australian Federal Police should be withdrawn.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, may I address that point of order? This is the second time we have had this histrionic performance from Mr Connolly today. My words did not impute criminal conduct. I said, "by the Auditor-General or perhaps the Australian Federal Police". The police force was delegated in Tasmania to investigate similar issues, but I propose to refer it to the Auditor-General. The point of my remarks was that it is relevant to this debate. I believe that it should be referred to the Auditor-General.
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