Page 4219 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991
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This Minister repeatedly refuses to answer questions. He will do anything in his power to avoid answering a question, but this time he has been caught out. This Minister's behaviour is reprehensible. I will not say that it deserves censure, although it probably does. If he would only practise his concept of open government that he talks about, we would not have had to go through this charade today of Mr Humphries having to suspend standing orders to get approval to even make his statement and to table the documentation.
The Minister needs to be put on notice, and I think he has been, that in future in question time he had better answer the questions. If he does not answer them, the information will be obtained and he will find himself here trying to explain how it was that information that is made freely available through the FOI procedures, if one only asks, was not made available to this house by him. That is the point at issue.
I am not too much concerned about what the ambulance officer did or did not do. That is history and the matter presumably has been dealt with as an administrative matter. But it is the Minister who has behaved reprehensibly, and that is the matter that needs to go on the record.
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker: I think the term "reprehensible" is unparliamentary. There is no evidence of that and I accept no blame for - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just to please you, Mr Berry, I will take advice; but I do not think so. There are so many things which have been said to be unparliamentary but which I do not necessarily agree are. I will take advice on that, Mr Berry.
No, it has not been ruled out of order, and I do not do so.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion (by Mr Berry) agreed to:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Assembly adjourned at 5.48 pm
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