Page 2312 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994
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Mr Stevenson referred to a particular method of handling amendments. I can say to Mr Stevenson that I largely concur with what he said. The document that was handed to members as they came into the chamber was an attempt to assist. It does not contain additional amendments. It was an attempt to put together under helpful headings all of the amendments that we knew about at the time. It is a document that is aimed at assisting the debate under the headings that we knew, from the discussions that we have had with other members, were likely to be the subject of debate. If that has caused offence, I apologise to members; but I can assure you that it was offered by way of assistance to us all in what could be a confusing debate because of the very many amendments to be moved and the need to get them into a sensible sequence that does assist the debate.
Madam Speaker, my main point is that the Liberals are going to try to delay the debate on this Bill by fair means or foul. What we are seeing from them is nothing more than an attempt to delay - a filibuster. We have all been around long enough to recognise one when we see one, and I have no doubt that it is not over yet. Madam Speaker, I have no doubt that they will try to keep that up for the whole course of this debate. Shame on you! The Assembly has voted to have this debate. If you hold the Assembly in such contempt that you are not prepared to have the debate, you ought not to be here.
MR DE DOMENICO (11.07): Madam Speaker, first of all, may I comment on a couple of things that were said by previous speakers.
Mr Wood: You will take your filibuster full length.
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Wood, I look forward to your intelligent contribution to this debate later on.
Mr Wood: It is intelligent. You are filibustering.
MR DE DOMENICO: I doubt whether you have even read the Bill, Mr Wood; so do not interject.
Mr Wood: I will not interject further because it allows you to carry on the filibuster more and more. Carry on. Get on with it.
MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you, Mr Wood. You just keep reading over there and you will be all right. Do not worry. Just stick your hand up when Ms Follett tells you to. Everything will be all right.
Madam Speaker, Mr Moore said what was perhaps the most important thing I have heard here this morning. Notwithstanding what we are all about, he said that there are two reasons why this Bill will go through today. "Here is one of them", he said, pointing to himself, "and there is Ms Szuty". If that is the way Mr Moore thinks about debating legislation in this place, shame on him. Shame on you, Mr Moore!
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