Page 12 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 10 February 2015
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This matter of business should take precedence; it should take priority. It is absolutely disgraceful that this mob opposite are going to knock it off as a matter of priority. It is a true indication of the priorities of this government.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (10.34): I am not supporting the suspension of standing orders, and it is important to underline what is being debated here this morning. This record should show that the Chief Minister, last week, through the manager of government business at the government business meeting, indicated his desire to make a statement early this morning and sought an assurance that that could be the case. When the Liberal Party yesterday indicated they wanted to move a motion of no confidence, there had already been an undertaking, certainly from me, for Mr Barr to be given that space this morning.
The practical effect of this is that Mr Barr’s statement will be in the order of about 15 minutes. If you take out this debate around the suspension of standing orders, we are talking about 15 minutes. I have given my undertaking personally to Mr Hanson that as soon as Mr Barr has finished his speech this morning I will be more than happy to give him leave to bring on the matter of no confidence. We are talking about whether it comes on at 10.30 or 10.45 or 10.50 this morning. Mr Hanson’s big rant seems quite silly when you put it in that context.
The bottom line is that that this can all be done quite reasonably and quite sensibly in line with the undertakings that have already been given. But Mr Hanson needs to make this a matter of conflict because that is the only way he knows how to operate.
In light of Mr Smyth’s comments about the 100 or so examples, I got out the companion this morning and, interestingly, this is not actually referenced in the companion. I was surprised because I accept the normal fact that this should come up as a matter dealt with early in the day, and it is going to be dealt with early in the day—it is going to be dealt with by 11 o’clock this morning.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR RATTENBURY: It is clearly going to be a long year because the Liberal Party already interject vociferously in the first discussion of the day. Let us move past this moment of confected conflict. Let Mr Barr make his comments and then we will get on to the matter that Mr Hanson wants to bring forward.
Question put:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Hanson (Leader of the Opposition) from moving a motion of want of confidence in Minister Burch.
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