Page 4165 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993
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MR HUMPHRIES (2.53): The Minister who is not prepared to hide things might like to table the document. If not, I move, under standing order 213:
That the statutory declaration to which the Minister referred be tabled.
Mr Connolly: Can you guarantee that that woman will not be black-banned if she ever needs to see a doctor again? Can you guarantee her safety?
MR HUMPHRIES: Come on!
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Moore: It has happened before, Gary.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! I believe that we have a motion before the Assembly.
MR HUMPHRIES: Put your evidence on the table, Wayne. You have made extreme allegations; back them up.
MADAM SPEAKER: Did you move a motion, Mr Humphries?
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, I did, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: There is a motion before the Assembly that the Minister table the stat dec.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, the Minister has made an allegation which is extremely serious. He has made an allegation which, in the circumstances, could seriously inflame this dispute even further, if that is possible. Yet he is not prepared in this place to table the document that would substantiate these extreme claims that he has made. He has made some allegation about people being black-banned. The fact of life is, Madam Speaker, that this Minister has made an extremely serious allegation and he should back it up in this place. Mr Berry, above all people in this place, has had a lot to say about the coward's castle. The doctor or the doctors affected have the right to be able to defend these allegations. Therefore, Mr Berry should produce that stat dec to which he has adverted in the course of his remarks and indicate the basis on which he makes these outrageous claims. It is up to him to provide the evidence and, therefore, he should table that stat dec. If not, the Assembly should make him.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (2.55): Madam Speaker, the Assembly has available to it the option of supporting this motion by Mr Humphries; but I would urge them not to, on the basis of what might happen to the individual concerned. I have seen the statutory declaration and I am satisfied as to its veracity, but I am not - -
Mr Humphries: Well, we are not, until we have seen it.
MR BERRY: I can tell you that I am not prepared to provide it.
Mr Humphries: Are you going to defy the Assembly?
MR BERRY: The vote has not been taken yet. I have to say, on the evidence that is on the public record, that I would not be prepared to endanger the future of those women who have complained to me - - -
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