Page 4881 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
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Let us get away from the nonsense about an urgent inquiry - I note that the reporting date indicates that it will proceed at a proper pace - because for 10 weeks you have had the opportunity to raise this and you have not taken that opportunity. Other than today, you certainly have not asked a question at question time or proposed anything by way of correspondence or discussion with me. You have taken no steps to suggest to me that you need an inquiry. You had that conversation with the Chief Minister, and she said, "Put it up, and we will consider it". We will run an inquiry and we will do it with more enthusiasm - - -
Mr Kaine: It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister is not here to tell us what she said.
MR WOOD: I have had a conversation. I will do it with more enthusiasm than Mr Humphries has shown. Let me make one thing quite clear: The budget decision in respect of the removal of the cushioning, which forms part of the third recommendation of the motion I presume Mr Humphries has circulated, will stay. There will be no suspension of the removal of that cushioning. The budget decisions will hold, and that has to be, of course.
While agreeing to an inquiry, the Government wants to make it clear that it does so on the basis that it has confidence in its processes; it does so claiming most strongly, with every justification, that budget decisions were taken in the full knowledge of all the necessary information. I do not want you to suggest at any time or to think that our acceptance of this inquiry is based on any lack of confidence in what we have done. We have proceeded properly, justly, and in every way in full knowledge. The inquiry is not to be seen as any acknowledgment of anything else on the part of the Government.
Mr Speaker, I have seen what looks like a motion on this subject that has been circulated. It has no name on it.
Mr Humphries: I told you that I was moving it; so, of course it is mine.
MR WOOD: All right, it is yours. The Government will not accept this motion. Obviously, we need to discuss proposed terms of reference with a whole range of people. We will talk to you about terms of reference.
Mr Kaine: You have had eight weeks to do that, Bill.
MR WOOD: No, we have not. You have had 10 weeks to do something about it and you have done nothing. You have heard what I have expressed. You are completely disinterested.
Mr Humphries: You are misleading the Assembly.
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