Page 3167 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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contributes in the best possible way. No doubt, at our MLAs' dinner tonight Mr Whalan can indicate to me what his real concerns are about government and what he feels he can contribute to.
Mr Kaine: They are boycotting that too.
MR COLLAERY: Are they? Mr Speaker, the adjournment is sought to enable effective government to start to take place in this Territory.
MR WHALAN (12.24): Mr Speaker, this is a motion in which Mr Collaery has taken the opportunity to canvass the whole range of issues of government. I assume that that is a right which will be available to other members. I hope that, when Major Jensen jumps to his feet seeking to constrain remarks that I wish to make, you will bear in mind, Mr Speaker, the latitude which you gave to Mr Collaery when he was making his speech.
This is an interesting day. This is the day when we have come together to adjourn the Assembly for a couple of months. It has been suggested by way of interjection that we have had the opportunity for debate; that we have stuck to the program of the previous Government. That is not correct. This was supposed to be a full week of sittings. We were denied the opportunity to sit on three days this week. Last week was supposed to be a full week of sittings. Yet again we were denied the opportunity to sit. So clearly we have not adhered to the previous Government's program of sittings. What is more sinister, though, Mr Speaker, is the avoidance of Wednesday - sitting today rather than Wednesday.
Ms Follett: An afternoon sitting, Paul.
MR WHALAN: Yes, because Wednesday would have been the day when there would have been the opportunity for private members' business. We know why they are terrified about private members' business. They are terrified to discuss the casino. I have been approached by business people in this community over the last 24 hours who are desperately concerned about the casino project. They have indicated to me that they have pleaded with the Chief Minister to make a clear, definitive statement in support of the casino. He has refused. He has refused to come out and make a clear, definitive statement in support of the casino. They have told me that the rumour around Canberra is that no-one is prepared to spend the money on the preparation of a tender for the casino project, given the uncertainty of this Government. So clearly we are facing a situation here where the Government is in disarray on this fundamental issue. That is the reason why they avoided debating this in private members' time yesterday.
Then we have got the contradiction of the two Government members who live in Tuggeranong. They were asked by me to support my campaign to have constructed in Tuggeranong a
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