Page 2643 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 1991
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Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I withdraw any imputation that Mr Berry is a witness yet. Mr Speaker, the Minister has been rambling on for the last nine minutes on this matter and he has not answered yes or no to a simple question: Did he ask for legal advice or, to his knowledge, did he - - -
Mr Connolly: This is not a cross-examination.
Mr Collaery: It is not a cross-examination yet.
MR SPEAKER: Order! That is not a valid point that you raise. Mr Berry or any Minister can answer the question in the manner they feel is appropriate.
Mr Connolly: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Collaery twice made imputations against Mr Berry. He said, "He is not a witness yet" and then he said, "He is not being cross-examined yet", both of which were imputations that Mr Berry in some way may find himself before a court. I would expect that that imputation would be withdrawn.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, I think there could be a misunderstanding. Please withdraw that.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, may I address the point of order first, before you pass judgment on me, please?
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed, Mr Collaery.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, Mr Connolly makes a fatuous point. I had already said that I withdrew any imputation that Mr Berry was a witness. I had already said that, and the conversation thereafter in this chamber proceeded on a jocular point. If Mr Connolly wishes to make that kind of fatuous point, I submit that you should not ask me to withdraw it. The fact is that the Rally has every intention in this Assembly of pursuing Mr Berry as a witness before the Estimates Committee and any other committee of this Assembly.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, do I have a question outstanding? I think I do.
MR SPEAKER: Just before we proceed, Mr Collaery, I would ask you just to withdraw the imputation.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I repeat my earlier withdrawal and I make no imputation against this Minister that he would be a witness in, as Mr Connolly now puts words in my mouth, any criminal or civil proceedings.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you. The imputation has been withdrawn.
MR BERRY: I am being pursued with so much vigour on this question that I am now forced to go to my written response. I mentioned earlier that we were left with a mess. Following my appointment as Minister for Sport, I directed my departmental officials to finalise negotiations with the
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