Page 2926 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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There is in the notice paper for the Assembly an important item, and that is an item inserted there by Mr Wood of the Opposition. It is an item calling upon this Assembly to censure the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts for his "attack on the health and education systems in the ACT".
No responsible government can allow a matter of that nature to remain on the notice paper undebated. This Government takes the proper view that those issues should be debated forthwith, and that the Government clearly should seek to put to the Opposition that it put its case now while the issues are current and fully debate the issues and any response the Government has.
MR BERRY (10.33): Mr Speaker, the Opposition has no difficulty with dealing with the matter forthwith because, in our view, motions of censure should be dealt with quickly. However, we object to the - - -
Mr Kaine: Oh!
MR BERRY: Hang on, you have not even heard what we object to.
Mr Humphries: It is probably pointless anyway.
MR BERRY: Hang on. Just hold your horses, old fellow. We object to a limit being placed on the debate, and I therefore move the following amendment:
Omit the words "for two hours".
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (10.35): I think this amendment by Mr Berry is absolutely outrageous. I support entirely the concept of discussing the censure motion. I think that it is something that needs to be done, but to suggest that this matter cannot be dealt with in a matter of two hours is clearly ludicrous. We have been discussing this issue in relation to Mr Humphries for four days now and on many occasions when the Opposition has been given the opportunity to discuss the matter of school closures it has declined it.
Mr Wood: Never.
MR DUBY: Last Wednesday, remember, private members' business?
Mr Wood: That is a lot of nonsense.
MR DUBY: This was for the simple reason, of course, that they did not happen to have sufficient time to work out the, as usual, weak arguments.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat please, Mr Duby. Mr Wood, if you insist on that behaviour I will have you removed. Mr Duby, please proceed.
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