Page 431 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 1991
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There is no getting out of it. Removing the last four words will not change a thing, except to expose him. I thank Mr Humphries for moving that way, whilst previously denying that that was, in fact, his intention. Mr Humphries is the great supporter of the modified d'Hondt system. I hope that, given the opportunity for a referendum, we see Mr Gary Humphries out there in the vanguard of the fight to retain the modified d'Hondt system. This is what we want to see, Mr Humphries. We want to see you out in front because you will run for cover when it comes to the crunch. You have been found out and your amendment clearly points out how nervous you are about the issue.
The only way that the Federal Government can, as I have said, abolish what you describe as preferential voting is for the Federal Government to move against the Hill amendment in the legislation. Of course, you are opposed to that.
Mr Humphries: I am not opposed to that.
MR BERRY: You are opposed to it.
Mr Humphries: I am not opposed to it.
MR BERRY: He expresses concern at the Federal Government's apparent intention to abolish preferential voting in the ACT. The only way that they can effect that in the current scheme of things is to change the Hill amendment in the Federal legislation. Anyway, you exposed your original intentions by moving to remove those words which you have sought to do in this amendment to which I speak.
There is another matter that I will now raise at the risk of being pulled into gear. If somebody wishes to raise it as a point of order, then I am perfectly happy with that. I will do it later. Mr Kaine deliberately misquoted - or, I think, probably misunderstood. It is a bit late - - -
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mr Berry sounds like the chemical corps in the Army - "When in trouble, scream and shout, run in circles and run about, and make smoke". That is what he is on about.
MR BERRY: Perhaps Mr Kaine was saying that he had been misunderstood too. We did not misunderstand. What I said was, "It is late and he has misunderstood what I really said". It is very clear in my amendment. I said that what we wanted to do was to ensure that this power was given to the ACT Assembly after the 1992 election. I hope that there is no confusion in your mind about that. The reason I said that was to ensure that you lot do not get control of that because we know what sort of a mess you would make of it.
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