Page 627 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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ADJOURNMENT
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Berry: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
MINISTER FOR SPORT
Motion of Want of Confidence
Debate resumed.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Berry has suggested that the VicTAB deal was cancelled because of privatisation. Let us look at that. Certainly there were some changes in Victoria; but, if it was beneficial for Victoria to be involved in a commercial deal with the ACT, why would they want to pull out? I have heard no single reason suggested by anyone, particularly Labor members, that there was any other possibility of a commercial reason. Raymond Burr used to present all sorts of possibilities as to what might have happened, but in this case we have heard not one. I think most people here have the clear understanding that the reason the deal was terminated was that we had an agreement with a Vanuatu based organisation. So does Victoria, but they are the big player in the superpool and they own the company in Vanuatu. That would make a difference.
Mr Berry stated again a few moments ago that when he was answering questions it was to do with VITAB not VicTAB. One would suggest that the two run very closely together, particularly when you talk about meetings that everyone was in on. I look forward to any points that the Minister or other members could bring up on this. I am sure that any member who wishes to raise any more points will be given time to do so.
The next point I look at is Mr Berry's statement in answer to questions that the deal was safe for the ACT. Leave aside the VicTAB deal that he knew at the time was threatened, to say the least. If he was talking about only whether the VITAB deal was safe, I would suggest that the VITAB deal was not safe. If we are not in VicTAB, logic would have it that we are not going to be in the New South Wales pool unless we somehow unload our agreement with VITAB. That is an important point that we need to look at. There is no doubt that the deal was not safe, and is not safe. I would suggest that anyone that understood - - -
Mr Berry: It is safe for the Territory.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Berry says that it is safe for the Territory. It is not safe for the Territory. Who else can it be not safe for if it is not the people of the ACT whose money we are using here?
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