Page 1330 - Week 05 - Thursday, 26 April 1990
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MR KAINE: I am not aware of any such statement, Mr Speaker. I will certainly discuss with that agency whether it is certain that they are under-resourced, and that is a matter of definition. The Government will determine how many resources and what resources they should have. From the viewpoint of anybody that might have made a statement from that organisation, it would be a fairly subjective view without regard for all of the other responsibilities and commitments of the Government, but I will certainly ask them to justify their position that they are under-resourced.
China Support Group
MR MOORE: My question is also to the Chief Minister. On 12 March, Professor Jenner wrote to him on behalf of the China Support Group asking the Government to provide a public site for a plaque in memory of the victims who were massacred in Tiananmen Square. Can he please inform the Assembly whether he has decided on a site, where it will be, and why he had not answered the letter as of 20 April 1990?
MR KAINE: The answer to the three questions is no, the Government has not decided on any of those issues, and the principal reason is that that letter was brought to my attention only on Tuesday of this week. I do not know how long it has been in the system or where it has been, but it was brought to my attention on Tuesday. The matter will be taken up by the Government. It raises questions of foreign relations and how far this Government ought to be getting into the business of supporting or not supporting foreign governments or the actions taken by foreign nationals. It is not a simple question of whether we know the bark on a tree. The Government will consider it in due course.
MR MOORE: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Chief Minister report back to the Assembly on his decision?
MR KAINE: Not necessarily. I am sure that, if we decide to put up a plaque, it will be generally known.
Mr Moore: Thank you! That is a joke. You are a joke.
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I think that Mr Moore ought to mind himself.
Mr Moore: You paternalistic, patronising old sod.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR KAINE: He tries to turn this place into a circus.
Mr Moore: You are the clowns for it.
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