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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 353 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, it is interesting that every time the Government does something that the Opposition and Ms Tucker, in particular, have no other argument for, they say, "Oh, it's not done properly. The consultation process is not right. There's not enough time, there's not enough something else". Well, here we are, once again bending over backwards to try to keep these people happy; but they do not want to be happy, Mr Speaker, because their glass is always half empty. They have never got a half-full glass. That is the difference, Mr Speaker. They have a narrow focus, are short-sighted and arrogant, as opposed to a government that is prepared to open its processes even further and also to allow as much time as you like.

MR KAINE (4.47): I must say that to hear Mr Moore accusing other people of arrogance when a motion of this kind has just been put by the Government is absolutely unbelievable.

Mr Moore: You were the one who wanted more time. You were the one who wanted more time.

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, are you going to allow me to speak or do I have to put up with that all the time when I am speaking?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Kaine has the floor. Mr Moore, be quiet!

MR KAINE: The Chief Minister put this proposal to me only a couple of days ago by letter. I preface my remarks by saying that the document attached to Mr Humphries' proposal is not the same one that was attached to the letter the Chief Minister sent to me. There is a notable omission because the original proposal to me was that we each would have 15 minutes to speak. I notice that that has been amended. Mr Speaker, I will read into Hansard the letter that I wrote to the Chief Minister in response. It says:

Dear Kate

Mr Moore: You have only got a minute and 15 seconds.

MR KAINE: Pardon?

Ms Tucker: We will give him an extension of time.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR KAINE: I will get an extension. We will suspend standing orders if we have to, just like the Chief Minister and the Deputy are trying to do. My letter says:

Thank you for your letter of 15 February 1999 suggesting a debate in the Assembly on the development of the 1999/2000 Budget. My initial response to this suggestion is simply that it is a slick proposal which can in no way result in an intelligent debate or contribute materially to the Budget's content and one which is designed solely to attempt to spread responsibility for the Budget as widely as possible, thereby somehow diminishing your own responsibility.

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