Page 419 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 1993
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We have a situation where my colleagues on this side of the Assembly, who call themselves Liberals but are really conservatives, raised the issue earlier that my vote has been constantly seen to go with Labor, and I presume that that is the case. I do not count it; they are quite happy to. It will continue to go that way as they become more and more conservative. What I have seen over the last four years, in the two assemblies, is the Liberals getting more and more conservative. It must be getting very close to the time when they will change their name from Liberal, because their name is a lie. It is a lie for them to call themselves Liberals; they are anything but liberal in any particular way. I have yet to see them vote for something that could be described as liberal with a small "l". They are the conservatives and, as from now, I think I shall refer to them as the conservatives. That is what we are talking about with this Bill. It is a totally conservative Bill that attempts to undermine the protection of workers, and I will not be supporting it.
MR HUMPHRIES (11.48): Madam Speaker, I will not take long either. In the debate on industrial relations in this country in the last few weeks in particular we have heard an enormous number of untruths, half-truths and outright, barefaced, unashamed lies. Let me run through some of those lies. Worksafe Australia will be abolished. That is an outright, absolute, blatant lie. The Liberal Party has not released its industrial relations policy. That is an outright, blatant lie.
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Madam Speaker? The imputation is that one lied. He ought to refer to his policy. Worksafe will be abolished. You cannot accuse me of lying - not in here.
MADAM SPEAKER: I did hear you say, "That is a lie", Mr Humphries.
MR HUMPHRIES: Absolutely, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Please stay with that, so that there is no imputation that you are dealing with Mr Berry.
MR HUMPHRIES: Absolutely. It is clearly an unambiguous, barefaced, unashamed lie, Madam Speaker. The Liberal Party intends to attack workers' conditions - another barefaced, unashamed lie.
Mr Berry: So anybody that says that is a liar. I will not cop that. The imputation is clear.
Mr De Domenico: Sit down!
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, I do not like to hear that form of interjection. Mr Berry, I believe that Mr Humphries was alluding to it in the abstract and was claiming not to be alluding to you. Mr Humphries, if you are alluding to Mr Berry, that is most improper, and I ask you to refrain from doing so.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, the Liberal Party intends to return to the mores typified by John Steinbeck's - - -
Mr Berry: Are you going to withdraw it? Is there any imputation?
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