Page 2015 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 25 June 2008
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there was something that it could do and should do straightaway. With that, I thank members for their contributions and commend the bill to the house.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Detail stage
Clause 1.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stanhope) adjourned to the next sitting.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Stanhope) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Legislative Assembly—pairs
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (10.29): Today we have seen what, disappointingly, is another low in this place. I might call it arrogance personified. We have seen the government whip and manager of government business once again ride roughshod over agreed courtesies and conventions and other such arrangements that have always happened quite well in this place until, it would seem, today. I am talking about pairs and general communication whip to whip and manager of government business to opposition whip.
We in the opposition have until now done everything we can to accommodate the government in regard to pairs requests. It is most unfortunate that the government whip was disgracefully disorganised and totally unprepared for this sitting week. Today has been absolutely shambolic. The government have requested over a dozen pairs for this week and next week. One of the agreed pairs—I will come to these few points one at a time—was for Ms Porter and Mr Stefaniak tonight from 7.30 to 9.30. The opposition had also offered a pair to Mr Hargreaves, given his recent medical procedure.
Ms Porter interjecting—
MRS BURKE: I am not sure what Ms Porter is babbling across the chamber—
Ms Porter: I am saying that it was Mr Stefaniak who requested the pair.
MRS BURKE: But that was agreed between the whip and myself. The opposition had also offered a pair to Mr Hargreaves, given his recent medical procedure. Ms MacDonald verbally attempted to advise the opposition at some stage in the afternoon—myself and Mrs Dunne—that there had been some changes to the daily program. I asked for these to be in writing and was told by Ms MacDonald that she could not do it because she had no staff. That was not my problem. The courtesy is to put these things in writing. There is a great deal to be sorted and worked through.
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