Page 539 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 1990
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MR SPEAKER: I will hold the proceedings at this time to take advice on Mr Whalan's observation that, because I did not hear the comment, it is not unparliamentary. I put to Mr Whalan: did you make the comment claimed by Mr Humphries?
Mr Whalan: I do not know. He would have to repeat it, Mr Speaker. I am not sure. In deference to you, Mr Speaker, there was quite an exchange across the chamber. If Mr Humphries could clarify - - -
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Whalan. I did not hear the comment. We will proceed.
MR KAINE: To get back to the question, the interest of the Opposition and the difficulty that it has in understanding the concept of Executive Deputies is quite incredible. Everybody else in the world understands it. The media understand it, the general public understands it, and the public servants who work with the Government well and truly understand it. Yet, despite repeated questions asked on the floor of the house and repeated answers and my putting out a detailed set of guidelines that determine the roles and responsibilities of the Executive Deputies, the Leader of the Opposition still does not understand it. She must be the only person in Canberra who does not understand the role, responsibilities and place of Executive Deputies. I suggest that if she wants to know the answer to the question, she simply read the set of guidelines that I have put out. That explains exactly what their job is, and she will not need to ask any more questions on the subject.
MS FOLLETT: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I draw the attention of everybody to the point that I asked a very simple question: do public statements by Executive Deputies have the status of expressions of government policy? In the Canberra Times of Friday, 16 March, Mrs Nolan said that all positions in the current Canberra Tourism Development Bureau will be subject to a spill. Is this government policy?
MR KAINE: The Leader of the Opposition is falling for the assumption that, because it is stated in the Canberra Times, it is fact. Mrs Nolan has already publicly stated that that was not a correct description of what she said, and I do not think any further comment is needed.
Minister for Health
MRS NOLAN: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. It picks up on an issue raised by Mr Berry in a question addressed to the Chief Minister during the last sittings of the Assembly, with respect to the appropriateness of the Minister for Health presenting himself as a medical practitioner. Firstly, has the Minister presented himself as a doctor and purported to
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