Page 950 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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MR STEVENSON (4.49): This matter, as Mr Berry said, was not discussed with me. When it comes to matters of this type, there are a couple of practices that are followed. First, it is acceptable for a member of one party to replace another member of that party on a committee or committees. I do not think anybody disagrees with that. My second point is that I believe that it is the usual practice that a chairman is selected by the committee, not by the Assembly.
Mr Moore: With one exception.
MR STEVENSON: With one exception, but that was looked at and it was decided that that was not the ideal thing to do. I would agree that Mr Berry can replace Mr Lamont. As for automatically becoming the chairman, I think that is up to the committee. There is another point I want to mention. Mr Berry said that I always vote with the Liberal Party.
Mr Berry: Ninety-eight per cent of the time, in divisions.
MR STEVENSON: Your figures are wrong, for a start. It is not that I vote with the Liberal Party. You will note that I never vote with anybody in here. I simply vote on certain issues, and there are reasons for that. If Mr Berry cares to check the percentage of votes during the time that the Labor Party did not have minority control of this Assembly, he will find that the figure is somewhat different. It is reversed. I think the reason for that is too damn obvious to explain. If anyone cannot work it out, so be it.
MS SZUTY (4.50): I intend to speak very briefly to this motion. I had discussions with Mr Berry earlier today about his intention to take Mr Lamont's place on these three committees. We also discussed the issue of Mr Berry being chair of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee and I indicated to him that I would not be opposed to that. What has taken me by surprise is the form of the motion on this matter that we are considering this afternoon. I think it is notable that members did not have a copy of the motion when Mr Berry moved it. While this debate has been somewhat protracted, I think Mr Moore's amendment to delete the words after "place" in paragraph (1) is appropriate and that the chairmanship of the PDI Committee should be resolved by the committee.
MR BERRY (4.51): Madam Speaker, if there is something that I have learned it is to make sure that there are some matters put in writing, particularly from the Liberal benches. I note that Mr De Domenico was dumped for this very reason in the past. I thought that what I presented would reflect everybody's view. I cannot see, for the life of me, what has agitated people so much about something on which it seems they all agree. When they disagree with me I expect that the debate will be much longer, even though this has been a fairly lengthy debate. On the face of it, it seems to me that the principles are okay, but the words are not okay. I accept that the numbers will swing the other way and that the same principles will - - -
Mr Humphries: Sit down, Wayne.
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