Page 5250 - Week 16 - Thursday, 28 November 1991
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MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (3.06): I can only assume from Mr Berry's moving of this motion that he has the numbers to pass it. Otherwise, he would not have put it on the table. I can only express my concern. This proposition was put to the Liberal Party only today. We discussed it today and we asked our party Whip to ask the Government what essential business it had that must be passed before the house adjourned, so that we could then make a judgment about whether we needed one, two, three or more sitting days.
The Government has simply put this on the table without any regard for the negotiations that were going on - negotiations which, I would submit, were going on, presumably, between the Government and the Leader of the Opposition. To find this proposition dropped on my desk without any consultation whatsoever I find quite offensive, frankly. I do not know how many members of the Assembly have agreed to it, but it certainly does not at this stage have the agreement of the Liberal Opposition.
MR COLLAERY (3.07): Like Mr Kaine, we had this issue posed to us this morning; but, quite frankly, given the importance of the planning legislation, the Rally is inclined to assist the Government on this matter. But I am disappointed to see that Mr Berry's motion has not reflected the Rally's request that we have the equivalent of a full day of sitting for private members' business by way of return.
Mr Berry: But you can do that anyway.
MR COLLAERY: We would be inclined to move an amendment to the motion, but if the leader of government business is going to give that undertaking to the chamber - - -
Mr Berry: If you want to get nine of you together and have an additional day, you can do it. It is not a problem.
MR COLLAERY: If, in return, the leader of government business is going to state that he will not obstruct the access to a full day's private members' business, we will accede to the motion.
MR MOORE (3.08): I must say that Mr Berry did mention this matter, but it certainly causes me a great deal of inconvenience. Mr Berry was aware of this. It is a matter that I have had planned for some time, on behalf of the Assembly. For that week I will be forced to cancel, I guess. It would certainly suit me far better if we used the week of 17 December. However, I accept the importance of the planning legislation in particular, and quite a number of other pieces of legislation that were introduced this morning that I feel we ought to take care of. I reiterate the point that Mr Collaery made: It is appropriate for us also to deal with private members' business, and I think it is appropriate that we have an extra day specifically for that.
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