Page 2678 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 25 August 1993
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What really matters is that the Liberals - three of them - have made a grubby attack on an individual who has been working hard for the community in the ACT, on the basis of a piece of paper which provides no evidence that Mr Wright has done anything wrong. There is no evidence. He was described by Mrs Carnell as a bagman. That, to me, is a very serious imputation. I have the piece of paper in front of me. It was suggested that the Chief Minister had been involved in some wrongdoing by appointing him to carry out duties for the community. How far over the top can you go?
It is a disgrace that members of this Assembly would do this. If there were substantial evidence, and evidence that stood up well, maybe they would have a case.
Mr Connolly: There is a passing reference to the bloke; no adverse finding.
MR BERRY: A passing reference to a member of the community is not good enough to damage him out there in the community. Obviously what the Liberals intend to do is damage Mr Wright. There is no question about that. They have set out to damage Mr Wright. This is a deliberate attempt to attack a member of the community who will have no right of reply. You do not have the courage to go outside and say it. None of you have the courage to go outside and say it.
Mr De Domenico: How do you know?
MR BERRY: If you have the courage, go out there in front of the TV cameras and on the radio. They would not be game to run what you have said.
Mr De Domenico: They have already run it, actually.
MR BERRY: Only because you have used the cowards' castle here to get it on the record.
Mr De Domenico: You had better be very careful what you say, I am telling you.
MR BERRY: I do not have to be careful, mate. I do not have to be careful because I know that I am right on this score. I know that I am right on this because I have all the evidence that you have put up. I have it here - a single sheet of paper which has been - - -
Mr Humphries: We did not make a claim against him. We asked a question. We were told to ask a question - - -
Mr Connolly: You said that he was named as a bagman.
Mr Humphries: He was.
Mr Connolly: He was not. That term was never used.
MR BERRY: So now Mrs Carnell dives for the dictionary, having made the accusation.
Mrs Carnell: No. We did it before. I just want to read it.
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