Page 5078 - Week 17 - Wednesday, 12 December 1990
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LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO MEMBER
Motion (by Mr Collaery) agreed to:
That leave of absence for this sitting be given to Ms Maher.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Alliance Government
MS FOLLETT: My question is addressed to Mr Kaine. What action will the Chief Minister be taking in relation to the open attack on his deputy, Mr Collaery, by Mr Humphries on Matt Abraham's radio program this morning?
MR KAINE: I did not hear the Matt Abraham show this morning; so I do not quite know what Ms Follett is alluding to. I did see a rather curious article on the front page of the Canberra Times this morning; but I am quite sure that, if there are any differences of opinion between any two members of this strong Alliance Government of 10, we can sort it out in house and I will be - - -
Mr Wood: It came out of house, didn't it?
MR KAINE: I do not know, Mr Wood.
Mr Wood: It was in the paper.
MR KAINE: As I said, I read a curious article on the front page of the Canberra Times this morning. I do not know how authoritative it is; but, as to the Matt Abraham show this morning, I did not hear it, so I do not know what Ms Follett is referring to. But I have said many times before that, within an Alliance Government of 10 members coming from three political parties, there are from time to time differences of view, differences of emphasis, differences of opinion. That is healthy. It is not like the Labor Party Caucus where everybody toes the line or gets thrown out. We do have differences of opinion. We talk our problems through.
Mrs Grassby: I am sorry for you, Trevor; but you are stuck with them.
MR KAINE: You are stuck with your mates in the Labor Caucus too, and I do not think you people on your side of the house have anything to crow about when it comes to matters that take place within the Caucus. Our joint party room, as I have said, is a place where opinions are freely
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