Page 3533 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
those percentage rate pay-outs. Be that as it may, we are the Government, we make the judgments, and we do not make our judgments on the basis of some unknown people not referred to by the Leader of the Opposition and whom she seems to speak for this morning in her vast knowledge. The Labor Party, Mr Speaker, no longer speaks for a large section of the community. It now, on the admission of two members opposite, speaks for the wealthy large clubs.
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Just get him to stick to the matter that is before the chamber.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Berry. Mr Collaery, please stick to the point.
Mr Berry: Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your very good ruling on this matter.
MR COLLAERY: Yes. Mr Speaker, you are no doubt blinded by Mr Berry's buttonhole this morning. Certainly, Mr Berry has not spoken on this issue, and that is interesting. I challenge Mr Berry to get to his feet now during the detail stage and support his leader in supporting the wealthy, big rolling clubs. There is no firemen's club yet, but Mr Berry should get into the action in this debate and state where he stands on the question that we increase pay-outs now on the $1 and $2 machines for the larger clubs who are going to be able to afford them.
I want him to assure me that he does not believe there will be any draw card effect for the smaller clubs, certainly the remaining 40 clubs at least who may not purchase those machines and install them.
MR BERRY (11.41): Mr Speaker, I am happy to respond to the - - -
Mr Stefaniak: Flush him out, smoke him out!
Mr Collaery: He is up his ladder.
MR BERRY: I would not mind a bit of protection from the Chair as well.
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: I am happy to respond to what could only be described as a vitriolic and personal attack on the Leader of the Opposition. This is from a Minister who, of course, has not ensured that he has been briefed properly on this subject. This Minister very clearly has not consulted properly with the licensed clubs in the ACT. I suggest, Mr Speaker, that that is very clear from his own admissions throughout his speech.
This is the Minister who, at odd times - I emphasise the word "odd" - claims to be a consultative Minister being driven by a party which has consultation as its basis.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .