Page 2417 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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MR STANHOPE: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The government and the cabinet would expect that cabinet documents, as required and presented, would contain all relevant information and would be of the highest standard.
MR STEFANIAK: I am glad to hear it. My supplementary is: Chief Minister, what responsibility do you have as the chair of the cabinet to ensure that all documents considered by cabinet canvass all relevant information and are of the highest possible standard?
MR STANHOPE: Of course I do—
Mr Corbell: Tricky question.
MR STANHOPE: That is right; it is a very tricky question. One can imagine the hard-hitting follow-up questions that this very tricky opening question will produce from the steel-trap minds of Mr Stefaniak’s colleagues. But of course, as with everything, as with every issue and as with all documents that are produced for the government, we have high expectations and high standards which we seek always to achieve.
To the extent that we do or do not achieve those standards, whether it be in the preparation of cabinet documentation, governmental reports, capital works statements, annual reports or the budget documentation, the extent to which we do or do not meet the standards that we would aspire to is of course a very subjective matter and will vary as between a particular observer or commentator and the particular perspective and bias which a particular observer or commentator comes from.
The perception that I have about the quality of a particular document and its appropriateness for purpose will, of course, vary markedly from the perception and the opinion of, let us say for instance, the Leader of the Opposition within the territory.
Emergency services—FireLink
MR PRATT: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
Mr Stanhope: Here’s the trick question, Mr Corbell—a steel-trap mind.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR PRATT: Just sit back quietly, Jonny.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Refer to members by their proper titles.
Mr Corbell: Pratty punch.
Mr Stanhope: Yes, the one-two; that’s right.
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