Page 2993 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 5 December 1989
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staffing resources and the like. How the Government could deny a call by the Legal Aid Office for help beats me. It is part of the lost conscience of the Labor Party, Mr Speaker.
I return to the letter dated 24 November 1989, sent out on the Chief Minister's letterhead. The Chief Minister refers to Collaery and Kaine making a naked power grab because they simply have the numbers. The Chief Minister wrongly refers to the fact that we rely upon Dennis Stevenson's vote. Mr Speaker, I have not discussed any vote winning issues with Mr Stevenson, and he can vouch for that.
Somewhat prophetically, Mr Speaker, she says that the ACT needs stability and commonsense. She goes on to give a pathetic rendition of the meagre sheaf of legislation that her party brought in, when a great harvest, Mr Speaker, held back by years of arbitrary control in this Territory, was waiting - a great harvest of legislation - an opportunity lost over the last six months.
Finally, she asked all people to talk to friends, workers and neighbours and to phone radio stations and to write to newspapers. But as the butt of that unrepresentative Labor splurge of indignation, this call upon the people by the Chief Minister, before the reasons for this motion were even enunciated, shows clearly what her concept of the parliamentary process is. It is that when the going gets tough you make a call to sheer rhetoric and numbers. It is the same old game, Mr Speaker, numbers and numbers.
Well, Mr Speaker, enough is enough. This Government will fall and the ACT will now embark upon self-government as originally intended. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the letter, signed "Rosemary", to party members, dated 24 November 1989, and a letter signed "Roger Smeed", to Seasons Restaurant, dated 2 November 1989.
Leave granted.
MR COLLAERY: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister) (2.48): Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Collaery for his comments. As expected, on this side of the chamber, we have heard nothing new, nothing of substance and nothing that justifies this motion or that indicates in any way that the proposed Liberal coalition sought by Mr Collaery cares about the future of Canberra. I do care and my Government cares. In the seven months since we took office on 11 May the Labor Government has worked for Canberra and we have been delivering for the people of Canberra.
The ACT Assembly and ACT Government are still at a fledgling stage. Time is needed for them to develop. Time is needed for them to put their own stamp on the administration of our Territory. But, most importantly, time is needed to bring about widespread community
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