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approached by this organisation. We deserve to go ahead and talk to them about this option. If the members of this place pass the foreshadowed motion this afternoon, I will take it that we should discontinue our discussions with ANCA. That is the import of this motion as I read it.

Mr Berry: Yes.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry says yes. I would say that that would be a very unfortunate outcome, a stupid outcome, and members should reconsider that position.

MR MOORE (4.15): Mr Speaker, Mr Humphries on many occasions during his speech used the words “stupid” and “stupidity”. They are appropriate words. In fact, I may well have been the first one to use the word “stupid” when I was asked by a member of the media for my reaction to the kite flying that Mr Humphries had run on this. I said, “It is a stupid idea”. I still think it is a stupid idea.

Mr Humphries suggests that because he has had an offer from the National Parks and Wildlife Service in response to his kite flying this was a very sensible way to go about it. Mr Humphries further suggests that, if the motion that Mr Berry has foreshadowed to follow this MPI discussion is passed, then Mr Humphries will not be able even to negotiate with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I do not agree with that, Mr Speaker. I think he would be able to negotiate. If he gets such an overwhelmingly wonderful deal that he can come back to the Assembly and ask us to reverse our opinion, then I think that would be a reasonable way to deal with this matter.

Mr Speaker, I find it very hard to believe that Mr Humphries would get me to change my mind about getting the National Parks and Wildlife Service to run Namadgi National Park any more efficiently than our own public servants can run it. If there is an efficiency problem, which I doubt in the first place, then let us deal with it. Over the last six years that I have been here none of us have heard any suggestion that there is an efficiency problem with the way Namadgi National Park is dealt with.

Mr Berry: Not one question.

MR MOORE: Mr Berry interjects that there has not been one question. That is how my memory serves me also. On the contrary, nobody has ever raised with me, as chairman of the Environment Committee over the last four or so years, the prospect that we should examine problems with the management of Namadgi National Park.

Mr Humphries: It is really the cost that is at issue.

MR MOORE: Mr Humphries interjects that it is about the cost. If we have an efficiency problem, it is appropriate always to look at costs and make sure that we work things as efficiently as we possibly can. Mr Speaker, to most Canberrans, Namadgi is part of our sense of space and part of our sense of identity, and therefore we should be looking very carefully at ensuring appropriate management ourselves.

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