Page 1876 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 19 August 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Matters of Public Importance
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (6.00), in reply: The issue that was the subject of much debate in this chamber earlier was simply about members exercising their rights under the standing orders. Anybody who does not like that has the opportunity, through the Administration and Procedures Committee, at any time, to change the standing orders. If you take the Liberal Party's vote to its most ridiculous conclusion, it would mean that on any day when no Opposition member in this chamber decides to submit a matter of public importance members of the Labor Party would be prohibited from doing so. That is absolutely ridiculous, and I think for you to suggest that sort of thing is totally outrageous and below you.
Madam Speaker, today your ruling was challenged. You have a right to pursue your rulings. You graciously allowed a short adjournment in order for members to reconsider their position, if they chose to do so. That is not the sort of lenience that is always provided. It has been provided twice for Mr Kaine in two assemblies. He had the opportunity to review his position. I think your gracious move to suspend the Assembly for a short time ought to have been taken advantage of. It is up to Mr Kaine whether he does or not. I feel that if this Assembly is to maintain any level of decorum - I am sure that everybody agrees - your rulings have to be maintained.
As I said when I moved the motion for Mr Kaine's suspension, I did it very reluctantly. I do not think it does us any good for members to be suspended. I supported the brief adjournment in order that some conciliation could be sought, if it were available to us. But it was not available to us. We were left with no alternative but to defend your ruling and your authority in this place, for without your authority this place is nothing. Madam Speaker, I congratulate you on your behaviour in relation to the matter today.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 6.03 pm
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .