Page 1262 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 23 August 1989
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know that Ministers, when they stand on their feet, have to be accurate. As far as I can see, all the evidence tells me that, when Paul Whalan stood to his feet yesterday and said that he had not intervened in a case, he was right. No-one has stood up and said today that Paul Whalan intervened to stop a consultation. So that is not an issue. Was he not correct?
A member: That is right.
MR WOOD: Thank you for that. I am pleased to have that acknowledgment. But there have been inaccuracies surrounding this chamber. Let me give one case that I objected to. I was outraged recently as a member of a committee to sit and watch television one night and see a report of a red-faced public servant admitting that land had been sold cheaply. I had sat in a committee room all day and I had not seen or heard that, and that was a statement emanating from this chamber, or from members of this parliament. So we do need to be accurate. Let us have some accuracy. There was a statement about a $100,000 bribe, known now to be totally outrageous. So let us have some accuracy. Mr Whalan has dealt with this matter and others. Let us have some accuracy.
If Mr Whalan finds offence at this, as he is justly entitled to do - because on two occasions that I am aware of he was told that this consultation had been stopped because of his intervention - I am not going to say, "Paul, that is something you should cop quietly". I saw a report, I think, in a newspaper, saying that Mr Whalan had interfered, and it was repeated in this chamber. Mr Whalan objected. Frankly, I think he is entitled to object. Let us look at what we do. If we stand up here, let us be very clear that what we say is spot on, and, if it is not, let us not be offended at the remarks that might be thrown back at us.
MR JENSEN: (4.26): Mr Speaker - - -
MR SPEAKER: Mr Jensen, I remind you that you are talking to the amendment. You are not closing the debate at this stage.
MR JENSEN: In that case, I do not need to speak at this stage, Mr Speaker. I thought we would be speaking to both the motion and the amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
MR STEVENSON (4.27): I move the following amendment to the amended motion:
At the end of paragraph (3) add "in this matter".
I feel there is no intention to suggest that Mr Whalan was unable to discharge his ministerial obligations as such, and I take the point that the Chief Minister made earlier.
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