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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (23 November) . . Page.. 2526 ..

Mr Berry: We will move to adjourn the sitting, and the Government can think about it until tomorrow.

MR MOORE: Tomorrow is actually Saturday.

Mr Stefaniak: That is right. Do not be silly. That is not such a good idea, Wayne.

MR MOORE: The last item in this document, which I will seek leave to table, says that the department is considering further options. I think that it is time for not just the department but also its Minister and the Chief Minister to consider those options as well.

I believe that you have been dealt with relatively gently until now. I accept some of the arguments that Labor has put forward that we could have used better processes. I believed that you would see the light, because you had not only made the announcement in your own policy that you were not going to cut education funding as you have but also assured me that when you got into government you would not cut education funding. That is exactly what you have done. That is why we are going to lose teachers; that is why we are going to lose standards; and that is why you are losing, let me emphasise, the support that you have had until now. It is not too late, and I want to emphasise that, for you to move an amendment to your budget. I strongly recommend that as the smartest thing for you to do. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table this document.

Leave granted.

MR OSBORNE (2.45 am): My understanding was that when Mr Moore voted for Mrs Carnell as Chief Minister she gave him a promise that there would be no cuts to education.

Mrs Carnell: No; that is not true.

MR OSBORNE: Anyway, given that Mrs Carnell does have Mr Moore's support, given that education is his baby and given that this is a minority government, I would have thought that you would have taken into consideration his very grave concerns. I would like to say, as I did earlier, that if the same issue arose in relation to the police I would probably be a lot harsher than Mr Moore was. He is a little more experienced in Assembly matters than I am. However, I would like to restate my support of Mr Moore on this issue because I think that it is very important, Mrs Carnell, that you do take into consideration the wishes of the people who put you where you are.

MS McRAE (2.47 am): Mr Speaker, I realise that it is quarter to three in the morning; but I do marvel at the things that I hear. It has been more than clear all night to Mr Moore, and to anybody else who cares to listen, that there are six votes on this side of the house, and six votes only. We heard Mr Moore earlier say to the Speaker, "I want to dissent from your ruling, but I am not challenging you as Speaker". Mr Moore is able to make that distinction about the Speaker when no-one else does. May I say, because I read it all very thoroughly, there is no such hairsplitting in any of the parliamentary advice. Any dissent from the Speaker's ruling is a vote of no confidence in the Speaker. I was very well aware of that. I realise that it is quarter to three in the morning.

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