Page 285 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
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decision about what course of action to adopt in connection with that particular block and section.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, as well as planning, you are also Minister for the Environment. Can you give your assurance that irrespective of any planning agreement reached, the stand of casuarinas - which as coastal casuarinas I understand are unique in the centre of Canberra - will be left standing?
MR KAINE: Yes, I can give you that assurance, Mr Moore. The arrangements under which the original lease was granted were that they should remain undisturbed and this Government will not in any way change that arrangement.
Directives to Government Employees
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I direct a question to the Chief Minister. Will he tell the Assembly what directives he or his Government have given to employees at all levels concerning their right to participate in the democratic social and political debate within the ACT?
MR KAINE: That is an interesting question, Mr Speaker. I would not in any way give any of the ACT employees any direction in such matters. They are free citizens of this city, they are entitled to be involved in those matters and I have given no direction, nor will I.
MR WOOD: I ask a supplementary question. I do not know whether that is a criticism of what Dr Kinloch did last week, but do I take it that the Chief Minister is assuring the Assembly that Government employees have the right to express their views?
MR KAINE: As far as I am concerned, yes, they do. But since Mr Wood has now made clear what the basis of his question is, I think that one has to accept that if as public employees they have a difficulty with the directions that the Government is taking or a decision that the Government has taken, their first obligation is to discuss it with their responsible Minister. Once that has been done, if they believe that they have additional cause or reason to protest, then as citizens they have the right to exercise it. I think it is a common matter of employment that they should first discuss their problem with their employer and resolve the issue if they can. If they cannot do that then, certainly they have the same rights as any other citizen.
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