Page 2025 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 25 October 1989
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to allow us to do that. The fact that we have not had that time has caused problems in this Assembly, and we will be talking later on today, after lunch, about some of those problems that have been caused by Bills not being made known and people not having the opportunity to consult in those matters early enough.
I believe that the Government is doing this to back us into a time corner. I believe that is exactly the same thing that has happened in the "Lambs" Bill - and I spell it L-A-M-B-S, not L-A-M-S. I believe the former is more relevant. What I believe has happened here - and I have proof of this - is that the Chief Minister knew full well what my requirements were and what the requirements of this Assembly were in the motion that was passed, and she has done nothing but give me personally the run-around since that time.
When I first brought this matter up, nothing was done. I put in another report. That report was with the Chief Minister's office for one month, with no contact from her or her staff on that report. When my staff finally followed it up again, we were told by Mr Webb that he understood that they had received it but he had lost it. At that time one would assume that he would have hurried, or staff would have been detailed to handle the matter. But that did not happen. That was some month and a half ago, and I was not contacted on that matter at all by the Chief Minister's office.
Since then I have put in other communications, requesting that this matter be handled - that was on 16 and 17 October, a few days ago - as a matter of urgency. Yesterday I put in another one, saying that I am appalled that the Chief Minister would allow the situation where I am being given conflicting data by two sections of her department.
The drafting section said that no member in this Assembly can move such a motion to allow members to use consultants and it does not increase any money. All it does is direct where they may be used under a specific allocation. I was told by the drafting office that that cannot be done. In a meeting with Rosemary some week or so ago, Richard Webb mentioned that he did not feel that was the case. Did the Chief Minister get back to me and explain what the case was? No, that has not been done. There has basically been no communication coming from the fifth floor to my offices on the first floor. It has all gone the other way and it has been going on for over two and a half months.
This Assembly has already given its indication that we requested the Government to bring into being the opportunity for members to use consultants. My party is small in numbers in the parliamentary wing, to say the least. Mr Moore, who is not here at the moment, is also perhaps a new party. I do not know whether there is a name for it there. So we might have another ally. What I need
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