Page 2545 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 1994
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that five is more than three, and there were seven people who were non-Government members. I do not know that too many of those seven would bestow a lot of praise on the Government. Those are the facts. As well, the process has to deliver something for the people of the ACT.
I give credit to the Liberals. I think they worked the Estimates Committee process in their favour fairly well. I give credit to Ms Szuty because I think she did a lot to soften some of the more outrageous things that they attempted to do. I note that Ms Szuty was a little bit sensitive to a letter which appeared in the Canberra Times above my signature. But those were the facts of the matter. Everybody over there knows and understands that I opposed this report, and I indicated to members all the way through the process that I would be having a few words to say about it because of some of my concerns over it. But I will say that Ms Szuty deserves some credit for watering down some of the more outrageous claims which were made by the Liberals in their submissions to the committee.
Mr Kaine: Which bits did she water down, Mr Berry?
MR BERRY: I am not going to waste the time of the Assembly working through all the outrageous claims that were made by the Liberals, because I am sure that you would not give me the number of extensions that I would require to do it. I have better things to do with my time, as well.
I heard some discussion about how the Liberals got in there and did the right thing. At the time when the report was about to be finalised, at 10 o'clock in the morning, as I recall, Mrs Carnell had to go somewhere and we were labouring over some points. Somewhere between 9.30 and 10 o'clock Mrs Carnell said, "If we are not finished discussing these matters by 10 o'clock, I will move a motion to endorse the report, whether you consider it or not".
Mr Moore: That was because we were there at 8.30 and you did not arrive, nor did any other Labor member arrive, until half past nine.
Mr De Domenico: Why don't you tell the whole truth?
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Mr De Domenico, would you desist from making that interjection. Could we have some order.
MR BERRY: I also remember the valiant efforts of the chair, Ms Szuty, to contain Mrs Carnell when she was pursuing a hypothetical. Mrs Carnell became quite agitated about the issue because she had been pulled into gear a couple of times, and she has never been one who likes that sort of thing. Then I noticed a flurry across the other side of the table, and all of a sudden there was - - -
Mr Humphries: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I do not know whether you should rule on the question of members discussing or divulging what goes on - - -
MR BERRY: This was in public hearing.
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