MINISTER FOR CORRECTIVE
SERVICES — PERFORMANCE
468. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Noting that there are 39 ambitious members sitting latent on his back bench,
why will the Premier not give someone else the opportunity to manage this major
portfolio?
The SPEAKER: Just a little
bit of advice, there should be no preamble to the question, so you do not say ''noting
this'', ''will you not
that''. You just ask the question, rather than give the preamble. The
member for Vasse can laugh if she likes, but she is probably the first
person who will get a supplementary question ruled out of order.
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
It is true that we have a significant
number of members on the government's back bench—around 39
times as many as the opposition or something
like that. In fact, I do not know whether there can be 39 times zero. I think
my maths might be a bit out there, but I am only the Treasurer!
It is the case that we have a very
talented group of people in Parliament. That is not something the Leader of the
Liberal Party can say. It is not a problem
he has. A very talented group of people were elected at the last election, the
election before and elections before that, all of whom are making an important
contribution to Western Australia. It is not a problem the member faces. I realise
it is not one of his issues that he has to deal with, but it is obviously one
of the crosses I have to bear.