Page 3589 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 19 October 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The next thing that could happen is like what was pioneered in North Sydney under Ted Mack and that merry band of individuals. They decided that there should be democracy somewhere in Australia and they started with North Sydney. Noticeboards were put up in each of the precinct areas. What were they for? They were to let the people know what was happening in the community; what was happening in government. You would find there the names of the members. You might say, "Oh, come on! Why would you need the names of the members?". Under the Labor Party in this Assembly, we do not even appear in the phone book, so it would be damn handy to have the names up on a signboard somewhere. People could go along and find a name and an after-hours number and they could ring someone. When you leave it in the hands of politicians they are liable to obliterate you all from the phone book. It did not happen under the Liberal Party.
Mr De Domenico: Some of us would even have the same number, whether it is during the day or during the night.
MR STEVENSON: Indeed we would. We come to another very important factor - freedom of information. Once again, similar to "consultation", I do not talk about freedom from information, which is what we have, but freedom of information. Talk about George Orwell's doublespeak. This is one of the things that are happening all the time. Finally, the people will say, "We want freedom", and they will throw you in irons.
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. I know that Mr Stevenson has spent a lot of time with assertiveness training, but we are not deaf. We can hear him quite easily if he speaks like a normal person, not like an enraged bull.
MR STEVENSON: May I make the point?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, please do not shout.
MR STEVENSON: May I make the point? I just have a strong voice. You have never heard me shout, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, on my account, Mr Berry's point of order was fair enough. I am finding your voice loud.
MR STEVENSON: It is a fair enough point of order. Let me tell you why I make the point strongly. Mr Berry says that he is not deaf, but he ignores the will of the people again and again. If that is not being deaf, what is it? We should have freedom of information. People should be able to get access to the information on which decisions in this Mickey Mouse Assembly are made. It is often said that the people - - -
Mr Berry: I take a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, when a point of order is taken would you please be seated.
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I am sure that you would not tolerate this Assembly being described as a Mickey Mouse Assembly, and neither would any of the members here.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .