Page 4632 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The Deputy Chief Minister has just made an imputation that the Leader of the Opposition took gifts while she was in office. I ask that he withdraw that.
MR SPEAKER: I do not believe that it is improper to accept a gift, provided it is declared in the correct manner; so I do not see anything wrong with that suggestion.
Mr Berry: The imputation, Mr Speaker, was that the Leader of the Opposition had done something illegal, and I seek that it be withdrawn.
MR SPEAKER: I am afraid that I did not identify that point.
MR COLLAERY: That large gathering responded fully on how the Community Development Fund was perceived by them over the years, on the prioritisation of grants, and on whether a triennial or even five-year grant system should be introduced, or expanded. That was a very useful discussion and I received very positive feedback from that evening.
I went to numerous other community gatherings and addressed numerous other groups. I would not be able to count the numbers and types of community organisations and individuals I addressed on the very vexed and very public topic of the future of the Community Development Fund. That was well debated publicly because the Canberra Times, of course, had the advantage of the draft Cabinet submission before Cabinet had seen it. That was all over the front page of the Canberra Times - "Government to abolish CDF". In fact, no cheaper form of discussion paper could ever have been launched by this Government than to get the front page advertisement that we got for this proposal.
The comments of the Leader of the Opposition about lack of consultation are absolutely fatuous. They are indeed, as Mr Wood pointed out to me, artful. They are very artful because, indeed, this document, this Bill that is before the house tonight, normally - - -
Mr Wood: Do not put words into my mouth, thank you.
MR COLLAERY: He is attempting to put words into my mouth at the moment. This Bill formalises what has been fully discussed and understood in the community. There are no community groups protesting outside the Assembly about this decision, as occurred constantly during the Follett reign. I think people should take note of that and think very carefully before they start a rumour mongering campaign as was signalled by the Leader of the Opposition.
The Government not only has done that on a fully consultative basis, but also has moved to establish a new consultative base with future funding in the Territory. Firstly, I remind members such as Mr Wood, who does not seem to want to listen, that the Government and the
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