Page 1703 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 18 May 1994
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MR HUMPHRIES (5.09): Madam Speaker, first of all, may I make a statement under standing order 46. It was suggested in the debate by someone on the other side of the chamber that there had been some consultations about this motion and that I was now going back on those consultations. I must say that that is not the case. I have not reneged on anything that I agreed with Mr Berry. The second thing I want to refer to is the suggestion from someone on that side of the chamber that I had put in a submission to the Remuneration Tribunal for additional money. That is also not true. It is not now and never has been true. To say otherwise is one of those typical Labor lines.
I want to move the amendment to the motion that has been circulated in my name. The amendment amends paragraph (5) to make a particular provision with respect to the tabling of papers. I have always wondered why it is that the control of the Assembly needs to be exercised in such a way that it is not possible for people other than Ministers to table papers. Members regularly do; they are almost invariably given leave to do so, and I wonder what the point of going through the process of seeking leave is all about. It is a fairly pointless exercise.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Humphries, are you still speaking under standing order 46?
MR HUMPHRIES: No, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: You will need leave because you are speaking a second time.
MR HUMPHRIES: I am moving my amendment, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: You still need leave to do that.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to move my amendment.
Leave granted.
MR HUMPHRIES: There is a need for us to ask ourselves whether we really should have the requirement that leave must be sought every time a member wishes to table a paper. Mr Berry believes that he should have this right to table papers without seeking leave. I think there is no reason for any member of the Assembly to have to seek leave. Obviously, there would be certain circumstances where that power might be abused; but, when that happens, whether it be by a Minister or a backbencher or that specially aggrandised backbencher, the Manager of Government Business, it should be properly dealt with by the Assembly in the appropriate way. I therefore move:
Paragraph (5), delete "the Manager of Government Business", substitute "a Member".
MR BERRY (5.12): I will deal with Mr Stevenson first. Mr Stevenson was out of the chamber, as is often the case, when this motion was first circulated and placed on his desk. I subsequently called him on the telephone and said, "Dennis, there is a motion on your desk that I would like to talk to you about, which I have talked to other people about". I went on to explain it all to him.
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