Page 2314 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994
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This is all about making sure that the Chief Minister's wishes are met, and nothing else matters. Mr Moore and Ms Szuty, good on you; you will vote with the Government and this Bill will get through today, but you have to wear the consequences of doing so. I hope that you wear the consequences of doing so. I can tell you, Mr Moore and Ms Szuty, that, come 18 February next year, or whatever the date is, a lot of people will be reminded time and time again about the irresponsible way in which this Bill was passed today because of your two votes.
MR BERRY (11.13): The people will be reminded of the double-dealing Liberals. It is clear that the Liberals endorsed the proposal to have this Assembly sit today to deal with the Public Sector Management Bill. I heard Mr Humphries interject during a speech earlier. He said, "We opposed that move to have this sitting today to look at the Public Sector Management Bill". I have taken the trouble to look at the uncorrected proof copy of Hansard. The motion moved by Mr Lamont was that the next meeting of the Assembly be fixed for Wednesday, 22 June 1994. We all recall that motion, so I will not go on with it. Then the question was put by Madam Speaker. It is funny; there was no debate in between. There was not a sound from the Opposition. They were committed to that outcome. As the Manager of Government Business here, if there was a change of direction of that order, I would expect to be told. There was not a sound to indicate that the Liberals were going to attempt to defer debate on this issue today.
Given that background, given that they emphatically supported the move when we last sat, how is it that they can sit over there, barefaced, and say that they are serious about debating this issue? This is just a political stunt - - -
Mr De Domenico: Sit down. That is what you said VITAB was, too.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR BERRY: This is just a political stunt by a group of people who do not know where they are going on this issue. They are grabbing at straws in relation to the debate. Mr Humphries said that they opposed it.
Mr Humphries: Who is filibustering now?
MR BERRY: I could be accused of being drawn into the trap, I suppose; but there are a few things that have to be said. Having said them, Madam Speaker, I will not continue. The people of the ACT will recognise the Liberals for what they are, and in this case they have been two-faced in the extreme.
MR HUMPHRIES (11.15): Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister has accused us of filibustering on this matter. I will prove to her that neither I nor my colleagues are doing so by taking less than my allocated time in this debate on the motion that the Assembly do now adjourn, like Mr De Domenico and my other colleagues. If we were going to have a filibuster we would be taking a full 10 minutes each, would we not? But we are not. Madam Speaker, I want to put on record - - -
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