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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (26 October) . . Page.. 2129 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (4.13): Mr Speaker, I want to say just one thing. Experience has made it clear that we have to be very careful in this area. I want to refute an assertion by Mr Berry that the Government is trying to reject or avoid the responsibilities imposed on it by the Assembly. The Government did indicate its opposition to this motion when it was first passed, but we also made it perfectly clear that we would honour to the full the decision made by the Assembly. This report by the Chief Minister is an attempt to do just that. It is clear from the words in this report that there is a need for us to come back and look at the issues again. I strongly welcome the comments by those on the crossbenches that they will be constructive about that. It is a pity that Mr Berry could not acknowledge that there was a problem with his approach and be a little more cooperative. I certainly look forward to working with other people to make sure that we fix the problems in a way which sends a message to the French Government without diminishing or destroying the availability of important services to the people of Canberra.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (4.14), in reply: Mr Speaker, I thank Assembly members for their commonsense approach to this issue. I give an undertaking to the Assembly that, wherever it is possible, this Government will not be dealing with French companies, whether it be for parts, new contracts or whatever. We certainly will not be buying products manufactured in France; but I am very pleased that we now can buy parts for the buses and buy antibiotics.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

PAPERS

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the following paper:

Department of Education and Training and Children's and Youth Services Bureau - revised report, freedom of information and financial statements, including the Auditor-General's report, for 1994-95.

It also gives me great pleasure, Mr Speaker, pursuant to section 19 of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993, to present the following paper:

Commissioner for the Environment Act - Commissioner for the Environment - report for 1994-95.

I thank the commissioner for that report. Finally, Mr Speaker, I present the following paper:

Ministerial Travel Schedule - 1 July to 30 September 1995.

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