REORDERING OF GENERAL BUSINESS
Electricity Industry Privatisation
Mr COLLINS (Willoughby - Leader of the Opposition) [2.32 p.m.]: I move:
That general business notice of motion (general notices) No. 92 have precedence on Thursday, 25 September.
From the first day of this session members have been banned from talking about the Government’s most significant policy. In a panic the Government has thrown up diversions, suspended standing orders, changed the program and generally dodged questions, all to save the Premier from exposing his policy centrepiece to the scrutiny of his colleagues, all to save him from mentioning the dreaded "P" word, the simple word that cannot pass his lips in this House: privatisation. It is a topic that has his backbench in panic. The ministry is split, workers are up in arms and $22 billion is riding on the word "privatisation", which he will not even say in this House. The motion finally poses the question fair and square. Will the Premier guarantee that power workers will not be sacked? It is simple. His backbench members want to know, his ministry wants to know, and the workers want to know. Today is his day, the day for him to answer that question. Do they keep their jobs or do they lose them? On every other employment issue the Premier breathlessly talks about job security.
For anything to do with the Federal Government and job security the Premier is the first to speak out - textile tariffs will stay. But when it comes to electricity workers, what do we get from this Premier? Deathly silence, a complete blackout on privatisation. Now is the time for the Premier to tell this House and tell the workers in the electricity system the fate that awaits them. It is a simple question and it deserves a simple answer. A dozen backbenchers who have power workers in their electorates are listening now in the deathly silence, waiting for the Premier’s answer, waiting for his guarantee on jobs. In a moment they will have a chance to vote. They can vote with the Opposition and get an answer for their power worker constituents, or they can stay where they are and support the party ban on debating the subject in this House. The choice is theirs. Electricity workers have a right to know, the constituents have a right to know, and that is what this motion is about. Those members must vote with the coalition if their constituents are to get an answer.
Mr CARR (Maroubra - Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Ethnic Affairs) [2.35 p.m.]: On a day when two members of the Federal Cabinet so ignominiously suffer a loss of job security the Leader of the Opposition raises the subject of job security. What does it mean for Badgerys Creek, which the Leader of the Opposition opposes?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Ermington to order.
Mr CARR: We want job security for the honourable member for Ermington. We do not want the faintest doubt. One thing is clear to every electricity worker in this State. Their prospects and their job security are infinitely greater under this Government than they would be under a Collins Liberal Government.
Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.
Page 485
The House divided.
Ayes, 41
Mr Armstrong Mr O’Farrell
Mr Beck Mr D. L. Page
Mr Blackmore Mr Peacocke
Mr Brogden Mr Phillips
Mr Chappell Mr Photios
Mrs Chikarovski Mr Richardson
Mr Cochran Mr Rixon
Mr Collins Mr Rozzoli
Mr Cruickshank Mr Schipp
Mr Downy Ms Seaton
Mr Ellis Mrs Skinner
Mr Hartcher Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Hazzard Mr Smith
Mr Humpherson Mr Souris
Dr Kernohan Mr Tink
Mr Kinross Mr J. H. Turner
Mr MacCarthy Mr R. W. Turner
Dr Macdonald Mr Windsor
Mr Merton Tellers,
Ms Moore Mr Jeffery
Mr O’Doherty Mr Kerr Noes, 42
Ms Allan Mr McManus
Mr Amery Mr Martin
Mr Anderson Ms Meagher
Ms Andrews Mr Mills
Mr Aquilina Mr Moss
Mrs Beamer Mr Neilly
Mr Carr Ms Nori
Mr Clough Mr E. T. Page
Mr Crittenden Mr Price
Mr Debus Dr Refshauge
Mr Face Mr Rogan
Mr Gaudry Mr Scully
Mrs Grusovin Mr Shedden
Ms Hall Mr Stewart
Mr Harrison Mr Tripodi
Ms Harrison Mr Watkins
Mr Knight Mr Woods
Mr Knowles Mr Yeadon
Mr Langton
Mrs Lo Po’ Tellers,
Mr Lynch Mr Beckroge
Mr McBride Mr Thompson
Pairs
Mr Debnam Mr Hunter
Ms Ficarra Mr Iemma
Mr Fraser Mr Markham
Mr Glachan Mr Nagle
Mr Oakeshott Mr Rumble
Mr Schultz Mr Sullivan
Mr Small Mr Whelan
Question so resolved in the negative.
Motion negatived.
Mr SPEAKER: I draw the attention of members to the presence in the northern gallery of Professor Dr Gjorgi Tonovski, Professor of the University of Ohrid, who is leading a delegation visiting the Parliament today. I welcome him and his delegates. I also acknowledge the presence in the gallery of students from St Luke’s School, Dee Why.