Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 4062 ..

Ms McRae: With the greatest of respect, Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I fail to see what relevance whether we are pleasant company or not for Mr Moore has to do with Mrs Carnell's budget. I really fail to see the relevance, Mr Speaker. I would like you to rule.

MR SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order, Ms McRae, because Mr Berry, in his address, made great play of attacking the Independents for their alleged support of the Government. Mr Moore, as an Independent, is, I believe, simply defending himself.

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. I am explaining to you why it is that I am going to support this budget. My remarks are totally relevant, Mr Speaker. I am explaining for you and for other members - - -

MR SPEAKER: Why you are supporting the budget; is that correct?

MR MOORE: I am explaining why it is that I am supporting the budget. It is because I support the Government. What alternative do I have?

Ms McRae: Silly me! I did not understand. I am sorry. It is my budget!

MR MOORE: The precious Ms McRae did not understand, and we can understand that. Mr Speaker, even as I speak, Ms McRae's interjections illustrate even more clearly the very point that I am trying to make. They are a mess in opposition. The chance of them being able to manage government at the moment is beyond the comprehension of an ordinary person. Nobody illustrates that better than Mr Berry. He is supposedly the manager of the Opposition's business, yet we see him on his feet again and again trying to see how close he can get to being named by you, Mr Speaker, on matters that are questionable. Again and again, we see him on his feet raising points of order that do not exist. This is the Mr Berry who, I know and you know, understands the standing orders particularly well. Mr Speaker, he is an appalling example of the sort of depth to which the Opposition has fallen.

With that, I have very little choice but to support the Liberal Government at the moment. I must say that I hope the Opposition improve so that there is a reasonable choice for people at the next election and so that if the crossbench has the balance of power again there is a reasonable choice for the crossbench to make in its vote. I am going to support this budget as I support this Government, and I make no bones about that, Mr Berry. You know and I know that tonight the budget is going to go through. It may be tonight, or it may be tomorrow morning; but I will support it, Mr Berry, just as for five years or longer I supported your budgets.

Mr Speaker, I get back to the point that I was raising earlier. I think it is an appalling affront to the Estimates Committee and members of the committee that the Government should respond as it did to the Estimates Committee report. I would strongly suggest to the Chief Minister that when Cabinet approves such documents as these she watch more carefully for the sort of comment that I described in the way that I did earlier because that is all it deserves. I also strongly suggest that she instruct the people who prepare these responses that that is simply unacceptable. The Chief Minister knows that there are

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .