Page 3719 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009
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thank her very much for her attempt. But I worry about the precedent of the Assembly saying to a minister, “You should do this. If you do not do this, then Y will happen.” In other words, “We will get the Speaker to do your job for you.”
Madam Assistant Speaker, the Assembly does not appoint ministers. The Chief Minister does, and the Assembly appoints the Chief Minister. This is a very, very serious precedent that we are embarking on here. I urge the Greens to give serious thought to whether they want to progress this or not. Maybe they want to actually go away and think about this one. It is about the Assembly involving itself in the day-to-day administration of a department through the activities of a minister, and I do not think it is appropriate for the parliament.
We have in this country the doctrine of the separation of powers. There is an executive, a parliament and a judiciary. My view is that this amendment may very well offend the doctrine of the separation of powers.
Mr Doszpot: What about ministerial conduct?
Mrs Dunne: John Hargreaves, constitutional lawyer.
MR HARGREAVES: Madam Assistant Speaker, I am not going to entertain an interjection by Mr Doszpot or the inane ramblings of mad people like Mrs Dunne. I want to speak seriously, through you, to the Greens about the doctrine of the separation of powers. Please give where we are heading here some thought. I do not think this is a precedent we ought to take lightly—
Mr Hanson: Madam Assistant Speaker—
MR HARGREAVES: Stop the clock.
Mr Hanson: I ask that Mr Hargreaves address his comments to the chair and not to the crossbench.
MR HARGREAVES: Madam Assistant Speaker, it is a vexatious complaint. I ask you to name him. I did it through you.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, please continue your speech.
MR HARGREAVES: I did that through you, Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: You did, indeed.
MR HARGREAVES: That is a vexatious complaint worthy of Mr Hanson being named and given a holiday. Give him a holiday. You have learnt the tactics, Mr Hanson. Good on you. Give yourself a fourth medal and bugger off home.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Please start the clock again.
MR HARGREAVES: Madam Assistant Speaker, this is supposed to be a serious matter done with gravitas. These people are frivolous about this exercise. They should
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