Page 2648 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 October 1992
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In this case we have something that is very different indeed. We have a report that suggests, under a heading "Conflict of Interest", the following:
Whilst the Committee was assured by pharmacy guild members and Ms Carnell herself that there was no commercial advantage to individual pharmacies in the dispensing of Methadone I would question this assertion as it is incumbent on small business owners to maximise their profit potential.
The expertise that Ms Carnell brought to the Committee as President of the ACT Pharmacy Guild, a pharmacist and a pharmacy proprietor was welcome, however, her ability to objectively examine the potential role of pharmacies in the Methadone program could be questioned in the light of her personal interests.
I take this opportunity, Madam Speaker, to point out that at no stage in the committee, either in public hearing or at any other time, did Mrs Grassby formally raise this matter. The first time I became aware of this matter being formally raised was in this dissenting report, and I consider it entirely inappropriate.
Madam Speaker, more than anything, I consider it a very sad situation because even with the difficulties of the last Assembly, even with all those parties in that Assembly, there was never an occasion when the committees were used in this way and there was a personal attack within a committee report. I think it is very sad that I am in the position where I have to table such a dissenting report. Mrs Grassby raises some issues of dissent that are matters of her opinion, which she is entitled to raise and which are quite important in terms of the debate on methadone. I have no difficulty with that.
I do have a difficulty, though, with this: Madam Speaker, I draw your attention to what I consider to be breaches of standing orders, particularly standing orders 52 and 55. Standing order 52 relates to a reflection on a vote of the Assembly and standing order 55 relates to imputing improper motives. Madam Speaker, in drawing your attention to those I point out that this issue was raised in the Assembly and voted on. That brings us to something that is perhaps even more important, and that is section 15 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act. Section 15 deals with conflict of interest. Subsection 15(2) of that Act says:
A question concerning the application of subsection (1) shall be decided by the Assembly ...
The Assembly has already decided that there is no conflict of interest. That being the case, Madam Speaker, this is entirely inappropriate, and I think it is a great shame in that it takes away from what should otherwise have been an important part of a dissenting report, an important part of the debate.
Mr Berry: It would have been all right if she had agreed with you, though.
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, I have an interjection from Mr Berry, who says that it would have been all right had Mrs Grassby agreed with me. I have just spent three or four minutes pointing out that I accept Mrs Grassby having a different opinion. I have pointed out time and time again that that is fine in terms of the debate. I have no difficulty with people having a difference of
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