Page 3983 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
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The Government will be finalising its timetable for next year's budget in the near future and will be discussing with members the implications for both the Estimates Committee and the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee.
Madam Speaker, I thank the committee for their examination of the 1993-94 capital works program, and I commend the Government response to the Assembly.
Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:
That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent the Assembly suspending until 8.00 pm this day.
MR BERRY (Deputy Chief Minister) (5.54): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to oppose the motion. We have in front of us a motion which would interfere with the passage of important matters that are before the chamber. We have just spent two or two-and-a-half hours out of the daily program, and the Government has to get on with its business. We still have to get to the Estimates Committee debate. There is a lot of work required of this Assembly. I understand that members may wish to break at what might be considered the usual time, but what has happened today has not been usual. We have had stolen from us, if you like, as far as the passage of Government business is concerned, two or two-and-a-half hours of very important time which we have to make up somewhere along the line.
Mr Stevenson: On a very important matter.
MR BERRY: I think these matters are particularly important. They are important as far as I am concerned. You can all weigh up in your own minds how important they are, but from my point of view they are important enough to press on with, and we are going to have to do them anyway.
Mr Moore: Not now.
MR BERRY: How are you going to like being here till midnight tonight? That will be fine. We will see.
Mr Kaine: We have been here till 4 o'clock in the morning. Do you not remember, or was that before your time?
MR BERRY: Do not worry; I have been around a while.
Ms Follett: You get a bit ratty after bedtime.
MR BERRY: They are getting a bit ratty now. This motion for the suspension of standing orders ought not to be carried because it is not justified. There is work before the chamber, and it is a great disappointment that the Liberals would move such a motion in order to block the passage of the very important Government business on the agenda. These are the lazy Liberals. This is the lazy Liberals at work, trying to block the passage of important Government business.
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