Page 16 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, I believe I can recall signing a document. I do not know whether it had anything on it at all. I recall signing a document, about three quarters of the way down the page. I believe a signature was required for a message in a racing journal. I recall at some later stage, and then again prior to 14 December, discussing a message with the general manager of the Office of Sport and Recreation. On 14 December, which I believe was a Thursday and the last sitting day, the Chief Minister gave a detailed explanation of the role of the Executive Deputies and tabled the document in the house. On Friday, 15 December, pursuant to that, I had a conversation again with the general manager of the Office of Sport and Recreation and directed him to ensure that the message did not refer to me as the Minister. He undertook to do so. At some later stage I had a further conversation with him to see if that had been done. He informed me that he believed it had been done and the message that had gone off had in fact been changed. Apparently that was not the case. I understand this journal comes out every three months and this is the January to March edition. I assure the house that I clearly gave those instructions after the Chief Minister's expose of what Executive Deputies were, and I recall to the best of my knowledge that that was done on Friday, 15 December.
MR BERRY: I claim to have been misrepresented, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Do you wish to make a statement, Mr Berry?
MR BERRY: I do, sir. Mr Collaery in a quite expansive way accused me of some sort of mischief about the issue of the Parliamentary Triangle child care facility. The press release that I issued drew attention to the fact that no announcement had been made by the Minister and I am very pleased that the release has now drawn the Minister out into the open. He has been flushed out into the open and has announced a commitment to support a child care centre in that area. What will be interesting is whether the Liberals and the Democrats in the Senate support - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Berry! Is this a personal explanation in which you claim to have been misrepresented?
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I am trying to make clear that there was no mischievous intent. It was an issue of some concern to the public and particularly Canberrans who have to travel in from the far-flung suburbs to work in the Parliamentary Triangle and who need child care. I think it needs to be clearly understood that what was intended was to flush the Government out on the issue. It has been flushed out and what the Liberal faction of that Government needs to do now is get some commitment from their Federal colleagues to a Parliamentary Triangle child care centre, even if it happens to be in the rose garden. I would like to see Mr Collaery give some commitment to the rose garden, if it is recommended.
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