Page 702 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 May 1992
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I think it is wrong in principle. I think it is working in the very opposite direction to that in which this organisation ought to be working, and that is to free things up a little, become less formal rather than more formal, to move away from the adversarial situation that we constantly seem to be creating and move more towards a consensus type of operation.
Mr Berry: You do most of it.
MR KAINE: Mr Berry, who is interjecting now, knows full well that my view always has been that this should be more of a collegiate system. I advocated it during the first election in 1989 and I have not changed my view. The Labor Party is the party that will not have a bar of it. When we took the government in December 1989, Madam Speaker, as a matter of interest, I offered Rosemary Follett a position in my Cabinet because I thought it would lead to collegiate government. Of course, she could not accept it. You lot would not have allowed her to do so, even if her natural inclination had been to accept it.
We are in a situation of adversarial politics because some people in this place see that as a good thing. I do not. I think that the use of 17 brains collectively focused on a problem would give us a much better result than only a limited number. I think this is going the wrong way. I am fascinated that the Labor Party wants to ram this thing through without debate, without justification, without demonstrating that it is necessary, without demonstrating that it has any advantages whatsoever. They are going to do it right now, irrespective of all of that. It is totally irrelevant to them.
MR LAMONT: I seek leave, Madam Speaker, to make a very short statement.
Leave granted.
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I too concur with the view - - -
Members interjected.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Lamont, I will just call these members to order. Members, I remind you of standing order 39. Mr Lamont has the floor.
MR LAMONT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I accept the proposition put forward by the Leader of the Opposition that we should become less adversarial in the way in which we conduct business within the Assembly. That is the view of the Labor Party which, in my opinion, has been shown by way of the sharing of information with members of the Opposition and with the Independents since we reassumed government.
Mr Connolly: Our arms are always open over here.
MR LAMONT: Nobody could be more open-armed in his approach than the Attorney-General, as he has just indicated. Madam Speaker, that in fact is what we are proposing in the amendments to the standing orders recommended by the Assembly's Standing Committee on Administration and Procedures - that we be more open, that we tell everybody that this is the day, this is the hour, this is the time when these matters of business will be discussed. It will not be left to chance. Everybody will know what is coming up.
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