Page 3150 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
to discuss anything; we are here to tell you the executive decision".
So I just want to make that quite clear. There has been nothing in the form of consultation. There has been no opportunity for input from this side of the chamber. It is a clear demonstration of this autocratic, authoritarian, Bjelke-Petersen-type government which is being introduced here into the ACT. The point that Mr Collaery made is one which has got to be clarified in relation to the extent of consultation and with whom that consultation took place. After I had spoken to Mrs Nolan yesterday, I contacted Michael Moore, who is an independent member, who today is not sitting in the chamber because of the repressive actions of this Government, but Michael Moore received no - - -
Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, Mr Whalan. I request you withdraw that. You are challenging the authority of the Chair.
Mr Kaine: He is reflecting on the Chair, what is more.
MR WHALAN: I withdraw any reflection upon the Chair, but I do claim to have the right to criticise this Government. If I am denied that right, then democracy is dead.
MR SPEAKER: Certainly. Your withdrawal is accepted. Thank you.
Mr Jensen: I raise a point of order. Mr Speaker, might I refer you to standing order 51, which deals with members referring to past votes of this Assembly. Mr Whalan was clearly referring to a past vote of the Assembly in Mr Moore being suspended from this house.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for that observation, Mr Jensen. Please proceed, Mr Whalan.
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, after the last sitting members might be interested to know that the Government took professional advice on how to handle the opposition. Norm has obviously had a quick course - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR WHALAN: I mean Major Jensen has had a quick course and he has been reading up on the standing orders. Congratulations. The point is, Mr Speaker, that there was no approach made to Mr Moore by Mrs Nolan or Mr Jensen to see whether he agreed with this particular structure. There was no approach made to Dennis Stevenson, as far as I know - I tried to contact Dennis Stevenson and I could not contact Dennis to check with him - to see whether he agreed with this.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .