Page 2646 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 1993
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In terms of recurrent costs, Mr Berry has not answered any questions about that because he does not know. Perhaps it is because he does not want to tell us. That is the other argument that we can use. The Family Planning Association is saying that the Government is committing its health budget to picking up future shortfalls in the operating costs of the proposed abortion clinic. It is as simple as that. If Mr Berry is going to do that, let him stand up in this place and tell us. He has the numbers and the Assembly has already voted on the moral question of the provision of the abortion clinic. If Mr Berry is going to be spending more money in the future for this facility, let him stand up here and admit it. He has not done that. He tried to hide away. It is the same way, Madam Speaker, that Mr Berry tried to hide away from the use of the word "abortion". Who can forget that famous press release where the word "abortion" was not used. They also tried to hide using the word "abortion" through the PDI Committee. If you are really committed to it, Mr Berry, I want you to come clear and use the word "abortion".
Nightly on our television sets we get the promo for a certain television station, with Mr Connolly standing outside this place saying that there will be no public works money for anything to do with abortion. Mr Berry says, "We will see", and guess who won - Mr Berry. Why? Because he has the numbers in Cabinet. One wonders how Mrs Grassby is going to vote on this issue. People are talking about the way Mrs Carnell voted before or what Mrs Carnell's views are. How will Mrs Grassby vote on this motion?
Ms Follett: Madam Speaker, I believe that Mr De Domenico is attempting to intimidate another member of this chamber. He ought to desist.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Let us have some order, please.
MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will continue and I will repeat that comment. One wonders, Madam Speaker, how Mrs Grassby and Mr Connolly are going to vote on this issue.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, the debate is about something quite different. Would you keep to the point, please.
MR DE DOMENICO: I will go back to the point, which is, as I recall, the cost - - -
Mr Berry: Do you support the provision of these services or not?
MR DE DOMENICO: No, I do not.
Mr Berry: Why do you not talk about that, instead of the costs?
MR DE DOMENICO: Because it is not the motion at hand, Mr Berry; that is why. I am trying to talk about the motion before me, which is the priority, Mr Berry. The other thing I will talk about is the fact that you stood up here and did not provide any details at all about costings, full costings, because you do not know.
Mr Berry: Yes, I have. I told you.
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