Page 251 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 12 May 1992
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I think the message to us is very clear - that at the next Premiers Conference we can expect that we will not be dealt with gently. I think that is a foreboding for all of us. As an Assembly, it is very easy to get up and berate the Government, as indeed it was very easy to get up and berate the Alliance Government when it was in. I have certainly participated in both. It seems to me, though, that if it is at all possible for us to resolve some of these problems in a cooperative manner we ought to attempt to do so.
The issue of the budget is going to be a very difficult one. It seems to me, from that statement, that we can expect to have a very difficult time with this ACT budget. Because of that it has become more and more important for the Government to set its priorities and not simply continue with the priorities that we inherited at self-government, as has happened with budget after budget, other than fiddling around with the edges. It is time to reset the priorities, and to set them in accordance with the philosophy that is part and parcel of whoever is in government.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.27): I will reluctantly speak on this matter. First of all, I have to indicate that the Government will be opposing the amendment which has been proposed by Mr Kaine. It was, in my view, a little churlish. I do not think it was necessary. As Mr Moore has quite rightly pointed out, the tendency has been to propose a motion that papers be noted with a view to allowing people to discuss them. There has been some reluctance to do that on occasions, but it is a courtesy which has been provided by both sides of politics in this Assembly in the past.
Madam Speaker, the most important statement that was made today was made by Mr Humphries. Mr Humphries, so far today, has been a bit precious; but the most important statement was: "There is nothing to argue with here". That is precisely correct. They got the wrong meeting. This is the preliminary bout. Wait until the financial Premiers Conference; then you might have something to talk about.
Mr De Domenico: It is in June, is it?
MR BERRY: Ah, darkness lightens. June is the one. I have to say that if the Government ever does anything that you can be critical of you will have to do better than you have done today. What we have seen, I think, is what ACIL suggested you should do. ACIL suggested that you should take it up to us, not get bitter and twisted. It strikes me that you missed the game. ACIL made it abundantly clear that you have to do something. You have not done it today. It was a nice little practice run, but more practice is required.
I have to say, in relation to the preliminary punch-up that occurred during the course of the early part of proceedings today, when members of the Liberal Party complained about not being aware of the issue that was about to be discussed, that they all seemed to have long faces. Then there were six prepared speeches. That is not too bad. They did not know what was going to happen, but then we had six prepared, long and boring speeches which were about the meeting that will happen in June, next month.
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