Page 3111 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .


The transcript continues:

MR BERRY: Can we provide you with an officer to reconcile the problem. We have got a problem with the question and the answer. If somebody would sit down and talk to you.

I said that in good faith. The chair, Ms Szuty, said:

Yes, that is helpful.

We were at the end of the debate on that particular issue and it was getting close to lunch. I said:

That gets us off the board.

There was no response to that. One would think that everybody was happy, that we were concluded. Mrs Carnell said - these are a Liberal's words:

If someone can do that, that will overcome the problem.

That was on 29 September 1992. On 2 October 1992, we see a press release that is a response to - - -

Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: Is Mr Berry talking about the Estimates Committee report? What is he referring to? He is talking about press releases and documents that he has not identified and that do not seem to have any relevance to the Estimates Committee process.

MR BERRY: Yes, they are relevant.

Mr De Domenico: It is all well and good saying yes. Which documents are you referring to?

MADAM SPEAKER: Order!

MR BERRY: "Mr Berry provided misleading answers with respect to hospital waiting lists" and so on, and she goes on about it. But at any time since Mrs Carnell said, "If someone can do that, that will overcome the problem", did she raise it as an issue with anybody? The answer is no.

Mrs Carnell: Yes, I saw the person involved 10 minutes later. You did not fix it.

MR BERRY: The answer is no. As I promised, the person I promised would do it fixed it; he told her the answer. Mrs Carnell complained to nobody, and that was the end of that. Then we go to a press release. Do not go to any of the other committee members - sleazy; she goes out by herself - sleazy.

Mr De Domenico: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: Can I suggest that Mr Berry should be asked to withdraw the word "sleazy".

MR BERRY: Well, shonky. I withdraw "sleazy".

Mr De Domenico: On a further point of order, Madam Speaker: Can I also ask him to withdraw the word "shonky", which you have ruled on before. Perhaps he would like to borrow Mr Stevenson's dictionary to find another word.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .