Page 1650 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 30 April 1991
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The Minister signed a letter that went off to the Chief Minister - he approved the letter - and then after it had got into the Chief Minister's in-tray he decided that he ought to disapprove it. So it was plucked out of the Chief Minister's in-tray, not before it was recorded, of course - that is how the whole debacle was uncovered - and it was taken back into his office, revised and sent off to the Chief Minister again. Obviously there was some sort of a cover-up going on. What it was about is hard to - - -
Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I think Mr Berry comes dangerously close to making unparliamentary allegations. The cover-up he is referring to is clearly a cover-up on my part. There is no evidence for that, and I think Mr Berry should be asked to withdraw the statement that I was involved in a cover-up.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Berry, I would uphold that objection on the basis that I believe that someone reading the record would interpret it in the way that Mr Humphries has put that point. I would ask you to withdraw the cover-up accusation.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, can I refer to the point of order?
Mr Duby: No, you cannot. Just withdraw it.
MR BERRY: Well, everybody else can.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry has the opportunity to speak to the point of order.
MR BERRY: If there is a cover-up, Mr Speaker, in any of the actions of Ministers in this place, and it is demonstrated by the way business is conducted in this Assembly, this house deserves to have it uncovered.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, I ask you to withdraw that accusation. Please just withdraw that accusation of the cover-up.
MR BERRY: On who?
Mr Duby: On both points.
MR BERRY: I say, Mr Speaker, that there has been a cover-up. If the cap fits, then somebody ought to wear it.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Berry! I direct you to withdraw the statement.
MR BERRY: I withdraw it. Mr Speaker, this Minister, Minister Humphries, approved one letter, then disapproved it, and then approved another letter which he conveniently forgot about, as was demonstrated in proceedings in this Assembly today. This Minister conveniently forgot that he disapproved one letter and sent another, and had approved
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