Page 4208 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991
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MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (5.16): Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to address the motion that is before the house, if I may. It is very interesting that when somebody wants to put some facts before the house Mr Berry does everything in his power to prevent it. This present failed Minister for Health protests too much, I suspect, Mr Deputy Speaker.
What Mr Humphries is aiming to do is to have standing orders suspended. It would have all been over and done with if he had not been forced to take this tack. He wants to put before the house information that the failed Minister will not put before the house. We have been asking him all the questions in the world and he will not give us any information.
It is not true that he did not know that this matter was being brought forward. I heard Mr Humphries discussing this with him earlier today. He did know that it was coming up. He did know yesterday, as well, that Mr Humphries wished to bring it forward. So, it is simply not true that he did not know. I could say that the Minister has misled the house, but I will not. I am assuming that it has escaped his memory. But he did know, and it is simply unreasonable for him to assert that this is something that has been brought on without prior advice; that he did not know that Mr Humphries wished to do this. He did know about it.
Suspension of standing orders ought not to have been necessary. If the failed Minister was not so boorish, he would not have taken the matter up in this fashion and the statement would have been over by now. So, I suspect, Mr Deputy Speaker, that Mr Berry's objection has nothing to do with anything but the fact that he does not want put on the table the information that Mr Humphries is about to put before us. We should suspend the standing orders and we should allow Mr Humphries to get on with it and make his statement.
MR MOORE (5.17): I am very interested to hear what Mr Humphries has to say about ambulances, so I think it is appropriate that the motion be put.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Humphries moved that so much of standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent him from making a statement. The question is: That the motion be put.
Mr Moore: I actually said that I think it is time that we put it. I did not move the gag, Mr Deputy Speaker.
Question resolved in the affirmative, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.
MR BERRY (Deputy Chief Minister): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in relation to standing order 46. I wish to make a personal explanation.
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