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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (3 December) . . Page.. 4473 ..

Debate resumed.

MR MOORE (5.01): In many ways this is an unfortunate day. This is the first time in the ACT Legislative Assembly that there has been a motion of lack of confidence in the Speaker. Through it, we have seen Labor, in particular, dragging the Speaker and the Assembly down. They do have a right to do it. There is no question about that. It seems to me that, as much as anything, this is part of a strategy. I hear people talking about strategies. This is part of a Labor election strategy in the context of their view of opposition. What they are here to do is simply to oppose whatever they can. The sad part is the frustration that comes out of the position that they have chosen to take. The rest of us want to get on with the work of the Assembly. You only have to look at the daily program to see the amount of work still to be done. I recognise that that includes a couple of committee reports from Mr Whitecross. We ought to be getting on with that work.

The Labor Party's frustration with the Speaker had built up because they constantly blame others rather than looking at the way they themselves behave. They have developed a conspiracy theory - we have heard it all from Mr Whitecross - that the Speaker is told what to do by the Government; that he dances to the Government's tune; that he is a puppet. Mrs Littlewood gave an example of the way the Speaker very clearly laid down the law to her and to the Chief Minister. He said, "There will be no banner". He said that the Chief Minister and Mrs Littlewood would be censured by this Assembly if they proceeded to do so against his ruling on that issue.

Being Speaker is not an easy job. There is no doubt about that. No Speaker is going to be perfect. I have been in this Assembly under three Speakers and a series of Deputy Speakers, who have all had a difficult job to do. When we hear the Labor Party talking about the way the Liberals used to act at this time of year, in some ways that says as much about the previous Speaker as it does about the Liberals. Let me hasten to add that I am not being critical of the previous Speaker, who I think did a satisfactory job. She did it in a very different manner from Mr Cornwell and Mr Prowse. She did the job in her way, in her manner, which I found very satisfactory.

At this time of the year and for the three months leading up to the last election, the Liberals were in my ear all the time saying, "Can you not see the bias in the Speaker? Can you not see how biased she is?". I defended her on many occasions, saying, "That does not seem to me to be the case. I understand your frustration and I understand what you are trying to say, but it is not the case". I am saying to you now, "I understand your frustration because you are the alternative government looking to be in the position of government. I understand that and I understand the frustration you must feel in these circumstances". To an outsider looking in, other than for this battle, it is not a "Get Wayne Berry" campaign. Mr Whitecross or Mr Corbell said that this is just a "Get Wayne Berry" campaign. It is not. Wayne Berry has done this to himself. He was warned today. Once somebody is warned, the message is very clear. It is then time for a different measure of behaviour for that person for that day.

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