Page 3023 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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those opposite, one wonders what they would do to him. According to Mr Kaine, it is a very firm accord and they are all fairly well tied into it.
Today we have seen the Chief Minister support the setting up of additional ministries when it was only just a little while ago that we heard him complaining that the timing was not right; that this was not the time for it. What it boils down to is that the people opposite are cutting back services for the rest of the people of Canberra and at the same time they are ensuring that they do well as a result. I think this is an absolute scandal. It will be remembered in the history books. It is, to use Mr Collaery's words, "an historical event", because these members will be remembered by their actions on the day when they cut back important services such as health and education but ensured that they, themselves, were looked after.
As to all this mumbo jumbo about it not costing anything, as I said earlier, I smell bacon. It is as likely as the pigs flying overhead that this will not cost the community more. It is about as likely as Mr Kaine's earlier statement that the Speaker's trip overseas did not cost the ACT taxpayer one cent. That is sheer baloney. Who pays the fees to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association? Who pays those fees? The Chief Minister, on that occasion, misled the people of Canberra. That was a misleading statement and it should not have been made. The fact of the matter - - -
Mr Kaine: You do not want to belong to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; is that what you are saying?
MR BERRY: No, what I am suggesting is that the Chief Minister should not make statements that have no basis in fact. The fact of the matter is that the Chief Minister made a statement that had no basis in fact. It costs the people of the ACT money.
Mr Duby: It costs money to belong to the CPA. It cost no extra to go to the conference in the Cook Islands.
MR BERRY: It cost not one cent, the Chief Minister said. What I would like is for these people to be honest and tell us how much this extra ministry will cost.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (5.19): Mr Speaker, I do not often speak in the adjournment debate because I think that - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, you will be closing the debate if you speak at this time. Would you defer to Mr Moore as he was on his feet?
Mr Kaine: In that case I will sit down.
Mr Berry: On a point of order; I am afraid, Mr Speaker, the Chief Minister has spoken and the debate is closed.
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