Page 2010 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 15 June 1994
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Mr Stevenson: I take a point of order, Madam Speaker. Under standing order 52, is this not a reflection on the earlier vote? Mr Berry said that the Liberal Party swept the Independents to some sort of an agreement, and then he went on to say that the professor negated that particular evidence. Is that not a reflection?
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you for bringing that to my attention, Mr Stevenson. I believe that it is not. You may continue, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, it is particularly interesting to note that Professor Pearce finds that the "rumours of pay-offs of various kinds to persons involved in the contracting process, directed primarily to the conduct of Mr Berry and Mr Neck", have no credence. That is something that the Liberals were behind.
Mr De Domenico: Where?
MR BERRY: More unsubstantiated allegations, but ones which were presented under the cloak of confidentiality - and don't you deny it. What else was in the Liberals' presentation to Professor Pearce, all those pages which were blacked out before public presentation? What cowardice! How many others were blackened by the Liberals' unsubstantiated claims? How can you stand there barefaced? The only thing that does not become clear is the role of the Liberals in the ACT in the cancellation of the VicTAB contract. One day we will find out. The fact is that if the VicTAB contract had not been cancelled - you have to accept that you had an involvement in it - we would not be debating this today.
Mr De Domenico: Ha, ha! There was the Victorian Government, waiting with bated breath for the ACT Liberals to influence them!
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Mr De Domenico, you have had your turn.
MR BERRY: If VicTAB cancelled the contract because of their impending privatisation, the VITAB contract was only an excuse for that cancellation, not the real reason. As Professor Pearce finds at paragraph 186:
At the conclusion of these two meetings, the ACTTAB and VITAB representatives were convinced that VicTAB had no objection to the proposed operation of VITAB on Vanuatu and were reassured that entry into the contract would not reach the agreement between ACTTAB and VicTAB.
The fly in the ointment - buzz, buzz - came after the ACT Liberals made their approaches in late November. That is clear. But, as Professor Pearce has found, their claims are largely baseless. The Liberals compiled the so-called dossier of information, and it has turned out to be baseless claims and rumours. No wonder they were so keen to proceed with the no-confidence motion in April. No wonder they did not want to wait until Professor Pearce reported here.
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