Mr EDE - 1995-05-16
Last month, the Chief Minister held a secret meeting in Canberra with the 2 main contenders for his job, the current Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister for Industries and Development. What promises were made at that meeting?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition never learns. Firstly, I can say to him that such a meeting did not take place. I say that with complete confidence knowing that he has no evidence whatsoever to the contrary. He has read too much in too many newspapers and, worse still, he has believed what he has read. The Leader of the Opposition is one of those people who never learns. He lost a carton of beer yesterday through backing the wrong horse.
Mr Ede: It is worth a carton of beer to keep you standing there ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PERRON: All the Leader of the Opposition succeeded in doing yesterday was to obtain himself some air time, but was it the sort of air time a politician would want, or was it the sort of air time that left egg on his face? He has to understand that, if he invents conspiracies and outcomes, he will be exposed.
Mr Ede: Come off it!
Mr PERRON: And you were exposed yesterday.
The Leader of the Opposition's office rang my secretary at about 5.30 pm and asked where the carton should be delivered. I was very magnanimous about it, not having taken a bet with him anyway, and I declined the carton of beer. I said that I hoped that they would all enjoy it. However, he has to understand ...
Mr Ede: Where did you get this from? Is this another of your inventions?
Mr PERRON: If you know nothing about it, there is an imposter representing himself as ringing from your office. Perhaps it is the same person who has been feeding the information into your ear that you have been tracking down and getting into trouble over.
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is nothing more than a shallow opportunist who has no policies, no backbone, no integrity and no support. I can tell him that, if and when I go, it will be my own decision. Can he say the same?
Mr Ede: I certainly can.
Mr Coulter: He can, but whether it would be accurate or not is another thing.
Page 519
Mr PERRON: If and when I go, it will be my decision, and I will leave the Territory in good hands. Unlike the opposition, I am pleased to say that the CLP government has a wealth of talent in its ranks which, upon my demise, will ensure that the Territory is in good shape and retains the record of 17 years of excellent government that it has had to date. I suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that, particularly after his performance at the last election, his demise may not be so entirely in his own control as mine is within my control.
Page 520
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition never learns. Firstly, I can say to him that such a meeting did not take place. I say that with complete confidence knowing that he has no evidence whatsoever to the contrary. He has read too much in too many newspapers and, worse still, he has believed what he has read. The Leader of the Opposition is one of those people who never learns. He lost a carton of beer yesterday through backing the wrong horse.
Mr Ede: It is worth a carton of beer to keep you standing there ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PERRON: All the Leader of the Opposition succeeded in doing yesterday was to obtain himself some air time, but was it the sort of air time a politician would want, or was it the sort of air time that left egg on his face? He has to understand that, if he invents conspiracies and outcomes, he will be exposed.
Mr Ede: Come off it!
Mr PERRON: And you were exposed yesterday.
The Leader of the Opposition's office rang my secretary at about 5.30 pm and asked where the carton should be delivered. I was very magnanimous about it, not having taken a bet with him anyway, and I declined the carton of beer. I said that I hoped that they would all enjoy it. However, he has to understand ...
Mr Ede: Where did you get this from? Is this another of your inventions?
Mr PERRON: If you know nothing about it, there is an imposter representing himself as ringing from your office. Perhaps it is the same person who has been feeding the information into your ear that you have been tracking down and getting into trouble over.
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is nothing more than a shallow opportunist who has no policies, no backbone, no integrity and no support. I can tell him that, if and when I go, it will be my own decision. Can he say the same?
Mr Ede: I certainly can.
Mr Coulter: He can, but whether it would be accurate or not is another thing.
Page 519
Mr PERRON: If and when I go, it will be my decision, and I will leave the Territory in good hands. Unlike the opposition, I am pleased to say that the CLP government has a wealth of talent in its ranks which, upon my demise, will ensure that the Territory is in good shape and retains the record of 17 years of excellent government that it has had to date. I suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that, particularly after his performance at the last election, his demise may not be so entirely in his own control as mine is within my control.
Page 520
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016