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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 10 Hansard (18 October) . . Page.. 3150 ..

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, there is something else that is extraordinarily important. Mr Humphries has said, "I shall appoint my ministry." He has not given any indication of how he is doing it, but he said he has not closed off any options. That, of course, is what concerns-

Mr Quinlan: You don't get it, do you? You just don't get it.

MR MOORE: I hear Mr Quinlan saying, "You just don't get it." This is the same Mr Quinlan who was on radio this morning saying that Gary Humphries has broken the law. He just asserts these things and we have a radio station that is stupid enough to run any kind of assertion. This is from a person who said, "We don't want to continue this matter because, after all, it was resolved by Mrs Carnell's resignation."

Mr Speaker, the critical issue here is that no no-confidence motion was carried against Mrs Carnell. When we are talking about parliamentary process, that is the critical factor. That is the absolutely critical factor. That members wish to express an opinion to a Chief Minister who will appoint the ministry as he sees fit is, of course, entirely appropriate, and they can do that in a range of ways.

When Mr Kaine was Chief Minister and he appointed his ministry he understood the ramifications of what he was doing. He understood how people felt. I do not remember any discussions, but I know Mr Kaine knew that I would disagree with him about the appointment of some of the ministers that he appointed. I recognised that it was his prerogative.

Mr Kaine: You just copped out.

MR MOORE: It was his prerogative. Maybe it took me a few too many years, Mr Kaine. The reality is, Mr Speaker, that there has been no no-confidence motion. The suspension of standing orders is entirely inappropriate at this time. We have just had a new Chief Minister appointed. That new Chief Minister does deserve to be given some time to consider the issues properly. In every case that a Chief Minister has been appointed in the middle of a sitting, the Assembly has largely risen, apart from dealing with some mechanical matters, and he has been given the opportunity then to do the work and appoint his own ministry. Mr Speaker, we should oppose this motion for the suspension of standing orders.

MR OSBORNE (11.00): Mr Speaker, I am a little bit confused because I heard Mr Stanhope attack me earlier today for daring to suggest that we do something that is not in the ACT constitution. I seriously took that criticism on board, Mr Speaker, so I thought I would go to the ACT constitution. This is the thing that I dare to suggest we contravene when we go to an election to change government. I did take his criticism on board, but I am a little bit confused. I am confused because that same man who attacked me 10 minutes ago is now attempting to do the same thing. I don't quite know what to do, Mr Speaker. If Mr Stanhope could just clarify his hypocrisy-

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am sure you would not have allowed this motion if it was out of order. Would you confirm-

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

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