Page 922 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 17 June 1992
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MR BERRY: If you were approved, if you had a contract. So even your pharmacy's income could be increased. So all of these ifs and buts still lead us to the point that pharmacies will be direct beneficiaries from this legislation.
I think it would have been wiser for Mrs Carnell to have had one of her Liberal Party colleagues or some other person who supports the legislation put this forward. But, no, she had to press on. That is fair enough. If she wants to do that, she has to suffer the consequences which I think flow from the debate which is occurring now. Section 15 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act says:
A member of the Assembly who is a party to, or has a direct or indirect interest in, a contract made by or on behalf of the Territory ...
I know that there is no contract, but you still have to come back to the issue of the perception of the community. It is eminently sensible for Mrs Carnell to allow this Bill to be discharged. In fact, I would argue that she should even consider her position on the committee that is considering this matter, because of a perception that could be held that there is a conflict of interest in relation to this matter.
These issues are fairly matters which ought to be considered by this Assembly. The Assembly will now take a vote on the issue. As a government, we are bound by the ethic of responsibility, if nothing else, to ensure that the attention of members is drawn to potential conflicts of interest and the damage that may occur to the image of good government in the ACT if these conflicts are allowed to continue. This motion that I have moved, albeit regrettably, is a motion that has to be moved.
Mrs Carnell: Ha, ha, ha!
MR BERRY: I hear a chuckle from the other side. I went over there and said, "I think you ought to withdraw this".
Mr De Domenico: Yes, about two minutes ago.
Mr Humphries: Thirty seconds before the Bill came in.
MR BERRY: I raised the issue before the Bill came before this house. I said that you ought to withdraw it. You had your opportunity, and you chose not to withdraw it. I think you were given fair warning by the Speaker that you had the opportunity to withdraw it and pursue another course. I say to you that the proper course for consideration of this matter is by way of the committee which is looking at the issue. I say to you that it is not a proper course for you to be attempting to introduce legislation which can be of benefit to some pharmacists, because the ordinary person in the street - - -
Mrs Carnell: You are not really worried about the methadone addicts. No, you are not worried about them.
MR BERRY: I am concerned about heroin addicts. I am concerned about the image of this Assembly. I am not concerned about the image of the Liberals. That is too tarnished to worry about. It is a lost cause. I am concerned about the image of this Assembly. I will rise to defend this Assembly on any occasion I have to.
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