Page 1640 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989
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That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would allow private members' business notice No. 2 to be called on forthwith.
This matter is of particular importance and, in spite of the fact that it is budget day, I particularly brought it up today on account of its grave environmental significance. However, I believe that this motion to suspend will be defeated by the major Federal-linked parties in this Assembly - the parties who perceive themselves to be environmentalist; the parties who try to present the idea that they are interested in the environment. The significance of this motion is that there has been no environmental impact statement for the National Aquarium in this particular operation. What is at risk is the whole Murray-Darling waterway, and we must keep in mind these risks. We are talking about the risks of billions and billions of dollars and of change to our whole environment. The sort of risks - - -
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I understood that what Mr Moore was seeking was the suspension of standing orders, not to debate the substance of his motion.
MR SPEAKER: That is correct, Mr Kaine. Please proceed to the point, Mr Moore.
MR MOORE: I am trying to emphasise the importance of debating this particular motion now, and I shall go to the other side of the equation where Mr Whalan has pointed out that the cost of the development is around $10m - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Moore, you are still debating the issue.
MR MOORE: I am seeking suspend the standing orders at this time in order to debate this motion. It is important to ensure that it is debated now rather than later so that there is no inconvenience to the developer involved in this case. Also, we must understand the absolute importance of this as an environmental issue.
Mr Whalan: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The issues are being argued. I am sorry, but I think that the member must be confined to the reasons for suspension.
MR SPEAKER: Yes. Please address the suspension rather than the argument, Mr Moore.
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, because we are talking about why we ought to suspend standing orders, we must have a good enough reason for doing so, and I am trying to emphasise the importance of the particular issue. That is quite appropriately in line with speaking to the suspension of the standing orders, otherwise people will not know what I wish to debate. The importance of the issue is that billions of dollars are at stake; not only billions of dollars, Mr Speaker - - -
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