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2nd July, 1991 ASSEMBLY 23 LEGISY.ATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday, 2nd July, 1991 FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTTIETH PARLIAMENT The House met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to the proclamation of His Excellency the Governor. The Clerk read the proclamation. The Clerk announced that he had received a list, certified by His Excellency the Governor, of the names of the members to serve in this Parliament, together with the writs on which they bad been returned; with His Excellency's certification that the writs had been returned prior to the day by which they were by law returnable. OPENING OF SESSION The Usher of the Black Rod, being admitted; delivered a message from the Commissioners requesting the immediate attendance of this honourable House in the Legislative Council Chamber to hear the Commission for the opening of Parliament read. The House went, and members having returned, OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE The Clerk informed the House that His Excellency the Governor had issued a Commission authorising the Hon. Nicholas Frank Greiner, the Hon. Wallace Telford John Murray and the Hon. Peter Edward James Collies to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen required by law to 6e taken or made by members of the Assembly. The Clerk read the Commission. MEMBERS SWORN All members, with the exception of Ms No I'I; took and subscribed the oath or affirmation of allegiance, and signed the roll. ELECTION OF SPEAKER Mr KERB (Cronulla) [11.19] : I move: That Kevin Richard Rozzoli do take the chair of this House as Speaker. The office of Speaker is an ancient and honourable one. It dates from 1377, when Sir Thomas Hungerford became the first in a continuing line of identifiable Speakers. The importance of the office,of Speaker bas attained greater, rather than less, 24 . ASSEMBLY 2nd July, 1991 importance in modem times. The institution of Parliament, which we all serve, is greater than political parties. The one sure sign of a healthy democracy is a vigilant, intelligent and self-disciplined legislature: Democracy is at bottom an agreement to hold civilised discussion on issues that-count, and those who cherish it must find and cultivate the techniques of reason. Kevin's life has fitted him for this high office. Kevin Roaoli ~has lived all. his life in his electorate of Hawkesbury. He completed all his schooling at .Richmond; he was, school captain and dux of Richmond High School in 1955. ,On leaving school he entered the family business and trained under his father as an apprentice watchmaker. He distinguished himself in the trade by winning the bronze medallion as the top apprentice in watchmaking in New South Wales in 1960. On 17th February, 1973, Kevin Rozzoli was elected to this House. Since then he has built up a record majority in his electorate . A few months after his election to this House he stated in a speech that, since entering Parliament, he had become conscious of the traditions which make up part of the fabric of the Parliament of New South Wales. Perhaps the: best evidence of Kevin Rozloli's impartiality and fairness is that during his term as Speaker he has occasioned criticism from both sides of the House. , I believe he has proved himself to be a worthy custodian of the rights and privileges of all members of this House. I implore all other members to express their confidence in Kevin Richard Roaoli in supporting his nomination to the highest office in this Parliament-as custodian of the ancient rights and .privileges of all members on both sides of this House. Mr.TINK (Eastwood) [11.21]: It is a great privilege to second the honourable member for Gonulla in nominating the Hon: Kevin Richard Rozzoli for the position of Speaker. It has occurred to me that the position of Speaker has at least one thing in common with the office of- Premier and the office of Leader of the Opposition. Though very few people hold the office .of Premier, ~ Leader of the Opposition or Speaker at. any time or over any period, a great number of people will always express an opinion on how those jobs are being carried out. Those opinions vary greatly. It is appropriate at this: point-the-Hon. Kevin Richard Rozzoli having held the office of Speaker for three years-to: reflect on the way in which he has carried out his duties in that high office and the reasons why I think he is the most suitable person in this Parliament, bar none, for that high role. In, my view Mr Roaoli has been an impartial holder of that office: There have been times when he has been criticised by members of the Government . I believe that is healthy. It is also healthy for him to be criticised from time to time by members of the Opposition., If-any-group in this Parliament is not prone to criticise the Speaker from time to time there is something wrong. I will mention comments made by some people in this Chamber who are in a position to refer to the role of the Hon. Kevin Rozzoli and to the way in which be bas conducted himself in the past three years. I begin, with, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition who, in referring to impartiality and upholding the standing orders and procedures of this House, said: We appreciate how you have done this and the leniency you have shown to some ofourmore recalcitrant members=-on:both sides. You have brought an order and discipline without restricting debate so there can:be free flow of ideas, and sometimes some . of the more jocular aspects have been enjoyed by all honourable members. Mr Whelan: Name them. Mr TINK: The honourable member for Ashfield asks me to name them. Perhaps he can ask the Deputy Leader of the Opposition outright. To illustrate 2nd !July, 1991 . ASSEMBLY- 25 another point that I have been frying to make it is fair~to quote something said.by the Premier about the Hon. Kevin Rozzoli: , ' You have tried exceptionally hard to bring a new spirit'to the position of Speakei. While no doubt the way yon impartially carry out your task in not always appreciated .by my colleagues, or indeed myself, it is a very creditable change from some ofyour predecessors. Reference should be made to the comments, made by the honourable member for Riverstone after some tune spent .as Leader- of 'the House for the Opposition-a person well positioned to make comments on behalf of the Apposition in relation-to how the Speaker bas carried out his duties. The honourable member for Riverstone,, at the time the honourable member for Blacktown, !had this to say: Though I felt the effects of your wrath on one occasion this year, I have appreciated the way in which you have dealt with matters-as I thank the Serjeant-at-Arms, who promptly escorted me from the building . Nonetheless, we acknowledge the fairness of . your decisions and your striving to restore respect for this 'Chamber. Those last words are critical. I believe it is the view of all members of this House who have had the privilege of sitting in the Forty-ninth Parliament-and certainly those who came from the Forty-eighth Parliament-that the Hon. Kevin Rozzoli has . striven mightily to ensure . that the procedures and reputation of the House have been enhanced under his stewardship. From speaking to the honourable member for South' Coast on many occasions I know that Mr Rozzoli-has his confidence which, in my . opinion, is no small or unimportant matter. I have always appreciated the courtesy Mr Roaoli has shown me and I have no doubt that of all members present the Hon. Kevin Roaoli is the most suitable person to-fill this position. It is a great honour . foc me to second Mr Rozzoli's nomination for this high office. I do so in full confidence that, if he is elected, he ,will carry out those duties in an exemplary manner. Mr ROZZOLI (Hawkesbury) [11 .27]: - I accept the nomination,' and submit myself to the will of-the House: , . Mr HATTON (South. Coast) [11.27] : I support the nomination of Mr Rozzoli as Speaker. I have been. in .this, House .for' 18 years and I have. seen Speakers . come and go. Mr Rozzoli is the fairest, and most impartial Speaker that I have seen in this House: The role of Speaker is. crucial to how members . of. Parliament perceive themselves;'how they perceive their role as members `of Parliament; and how they perceive their Parliament: This House is known as~the bear pit. The job of Speaker is . most difficult and the Speaker deserves the unanimous and full support of members of this Parliament. , That can happen only if membersbelieve that the Speaker is truly impartial and recognises the rights of every member in this House. It :depends also on the Premier, as the head of the -Executive Government, and on the Government recognising that the House belongs to the people of New South Wales,and~to each of the members representing those people . 'The House does not belong to :the Executive Government .. 'J lookforward to dramatic changes in the procedures. of.this House. Given those changes-I,hope one of them will be the method of the election of Speaker-the Speaker will be in a .much, more ,powerful position and be'ableto,give even .more of himself, through, the procedures of the House, . to . the members involved. 'This Parliament belongs .to every man and woman in it,.