Page 2292 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 17 August 1993
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MR HUMPHRIES (4.55): I do not know about Mr De Domenico, but I certainly learn something every time Mr Lamont rises in his place to make a speech on an MPI. I learn how to make a 10-minute speech without having done any research on the topic on which I am speaking. That is what I learnt from Mr Lamont's speech. Mr Lamont again has made an interesting contribution in terms of rhetoric and political grandstanding. He has made no contribution in terms of the substance of this debate.
Mr Berry's contribution has been of slightly more substance; but it has not greatly enlightened the Assembly, notwithstanding that fact. There are, of course, benefits, Mr Berry, in being firm. People admire politicians who are firm and who are resolute. Mr Berry unfortunately goes one step further. Mr Berry is stubborn. Mr Berry will see an avalanche of facts and figures coming towards him, he will see the overwhelming weight of opinion, informed public opinion, and he still will stand his ground. Mr Berry will not change his mind no matter what. Mr Berry is a man of strong principles. Well, Madam Speaker, Mr Berry's strong principles are going to cost this Territory and the taxpayers of this Territory through the nose.
Madam Speaker, Mr Berry was given the chance on radio this morning. Let me say, first of all, that Mr Berry corrects me and says that in fact the Alliance Government did not announce that the hospice was going on Acton Peninsula; it announced that it was going next to a major public hospital. If that is the case, and I have not seen the papers he quoted from - I am sure he is not misquoting Hansard - I accept his advice and I apologise for having suggested that that was otherwise. However, I certainly did not say at that time that it was going next to Calvary Hospital. I certainly had an open mind about where it should go. The Alliance Government had considerable debate about where that hospice should go and its decision at that time was not fixed in concrete, to use that expression. I sincerely doubt whether the same flexibility of mind that applied then applies now to the decision that you have made on the location of the hospice.
To prove that fact I cite the extraordinary spectacle we had on radio today of Mr Berry being repeatedly invited by Matthew Abraham to indicate whether or not he had dictated terms of reference concerning the location of the hospice to the working party that was debating that hospice decision which was the subject of that radio interview. He was invited at least three times to indicate whether or not he actually dictated the terms of reference in terms of location. Did you or did you not indicate that you wanted the hospice to be on Acton Peninsula?
Mr Berry: We promised that it would be there.
MR HUMPHRIES: You did not want it to be at Calvary Hospital. Did you or did you not indicate that? Madam Speaker, Mr Berry has not answered that question straight in the Assembly today. He has not answered that question today on the radio. Mr Berry cannot answer that question because he is embarrassed. I can look the constituents of this Territory in the eye and say that I was prepared to accept the best advice available to me in the best interests of the use of the taxpayers' money of this Territory. Mr Berry cannot.
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