Page 2014 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 8 September 1992
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MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (3.20): Madam Speaker, it is clear that we have yet another case of the Labor Government, together with the silent member of the party, Mr Moore, making a determination that they are going to override the opinions of other members of this Assembly. We have witnessed this now for some months. I do not know why Mr Moore does not declare his colours and formally join the Labor Party. Then we will know exactly where he stands.
Mr Lamont: Why didn't you join the Residents Rally?
MR KAINE: I had no intention of joining the Residents Rally. My allegiance is to the Liberal Party. If he wants to be a member of the party, that is fine; I do not mind.
It is interesting that on this issue we get a number of different opinions expressed as to what happened. The simple fact is, Madam Speaker, that it is the right of the Liberal Party, as a party, to make its decision on what happens in this house, just as happens in the Labor Party caucus with Mr Moore participating. We discussed this matter - - -
Mr Lamont: You are touchy, Trevor.
MR KAINE: You are touchy and you ought to be.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR KAINE: We discussed this matter in our party room and we decided that there are standing orders. I asked you, Madam Speaker, to make a ruling on it before Mr Moore stood up. This point in the proceedings of this Assembly is set aside quite clearly for the presentation of papers by the Government or by you, Madam Speaker. There is no presumption in here that papers can be presented by another member of the Assembly. If Mr Moore wants to acknowledge that he is a quasi Minister in this Government or that he is substituting for you, Madam Speaker, then I do not mind; he would be entitled under the standing orders to present a paper. The point is that he is neither, as far as I am aware.
I know that the Labor Party has lots of secret agendas, so I do not know that I do know everything they do; but, as far as I am aware, Mr Moore is neither a Minister nor the Speaker, Madam Speaker, and he is not entitled to present a paper under this section. If he wants to present a paper he can seek leave to do so at any other time.
Mr Lamont: He sought leave and you said no.
MR KAINE: I said "at any other time". Is he going to get up next in the middle of question time and seek leave to present his paper? Is he going to do it, and I suggest he would, in the middle of ministerial statements?
Mr Moore: You never know.
MR KAINE: I know, because you are a quasi Minister, obviously. They obviously would agree to that. Well, that is okay. If you and the Labor Party want to distort the standing orders of this Assembly, that is okay; but I am letting you know that the Liberal Party objects to this kind of manipulation.
Mr Lamont: Don't use up all your angst before the MPI.
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