Page 601 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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We allowed them to suspend all standing orders and to take as long as they like on this issue. Madam Speaker, it is simply not acceptable for this matter to be held over while members go off and have dinner, or whatever it is they want to do. This is a matter of vital importance and it must be heard out. It must be heard out, without interruption. Madam Speaker, I think that the Liberals, yet again, are cheapening the currency. We have seen them do it over and over with censure motions. Censure motions are just like Smarties. They are handed out to anyone. This time, Madam Speaker, they have gone one better with a motion of no confidence, and they are not even prepared to sit here until the vote is taken. It is an absolute outrage. They insult the whole Assembly and its processes.
MR STEVENSON (6.35): There has been a great deal of evidence tabled in this Assembly and I think a break would be beneficial, not to have dinner but to be able to go through some of the evidence.
MR LAMONT (6.36): Madam Speaker, the simple fact is that there has been nothing new in discussions around this chamber this afternoon. There have been a number of comments, but basically there has been nothing new. If there is contention between one issue and another, we have, on many occasions in this chamber, dealt with such an issue. I believe that we should, as the Chief Minister said, continue until this matter is determined. If we adjourn now and come back, I presume, at 8 o'clock, we will bat on until midnight or 1.00 am or 2.00 am. This matter, want of confidence in a Minister, is one of the most important matters that this Assembly has had to deal with in the last two years. We should continue and have the matter determined.
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (6.37): Madam Speaker, the Opposition believes that this is a very important matter and it needs to be looked at in appropriate terms, particularly by the Independents. They have had an awful lot of information given to them this afternoon. Even we on this side have received a lot of information - information that Mr Berry has tabled in the form of statutory declarations and statements from all sorts of people - that we have not had an opportunity to go through and to look at. In this case the Independents in particular have to make a very important decision. I believe that everybody deserves a little bit of time to look at the information that was put forward this afternoon.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (6.37): Madam Speaker, this is an extraordinary proceeding. We have before us one of the most significant forms of any house - a motion of want of confidence - and now they want to have a break, presumably so that they can all run around and lobby people. This matter is before the house, and members have been listening to the debate with a great deal of attention all afternoon. Mr Stevenson says that there is more evidence before us. We must not think we are a court of law. It is not evidence; it is assertion and counter-assertion. Members have listened to the debate. It is a serious matter. We should get on and debate it. I cannot imagine any house in any parliament in Australia that would decide to break for dinner in the middle of a motion of want of confidence. Either you are serious when you bring these matters of want of confidence into this place, and we debate them out, or, as the Chief Minister observes, you are debasing the currency.
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