Page 604 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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forward in the course of the decision making process on this matter. I think taking a break is unnecessary. It makes the place look a bit silly. This, it seems, is not a place where people are prepared to deal with those very important issues as a matter of some urgency. This is a matter that, in my view, ought to be dealt with with some urgency. It is all right for the Liberals; they have made up their mind. A lot of other people have had a lot of time to think about this as well. I am forced to the view that you really have to press on with the thing and get it out of the road, one way or the other. Therefore, we will oppose this motion.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (6.45): Madam Speaker, I want to add to what Mr Berry has said and I will repeat what I said earlier. The Liberals brought on this motion.
Mr Moore: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Chief Minister just indicated that she is going to repeat what she said earlier. That clearly is in contravention of standing orders.
MADAM SPEAKER: It has nothing to do with that standing order, Mr Moore. Please continue, Ms Follett.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, the Liberals brought on this motion today. The timing was of their choosing. They said themselves that they have been considering this matter for five months, so presumably they could have brought it on at an earlier point had they so chosen. The Liberals not only chose the timing for this matter; they chose the form for the matter. They chose to bring on a motion of no confidence in the Minister. When they brought on that motion of no confidence every member of this Assembly assumed that that motion took precedence over all other business. We had no petitions, we had no question time, we had no Government business. What none of us, I think, had counted on was that the motion of no confidence takes precedence apparently over all matters except the Liberals' dinner. I think that is pathetic. They have had many months to get their case together on this matter. The onus is on them to prove the matter that we are looking at today. I think the fact that they have left their run apparently so late that they now have to adjourn it is disgraceful. We have heard repeatedly on the media reports of Liberals handing over to the Independents their files and their evidence and so on for consideration; yet, on the very day that this matter is being considered, the Liberals are saying that they are not ready to finalise it. Madam Speaker, I believe that they are simply not serious in what is one of the most serious matters that this Assembly could consider. Put your tummies aside and get on with the vote.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Sitting suspended from 6.48 to 8.00 pm
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