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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 11 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 2841 ..

Mr Connolly: Where was sacking the doctors in any policy? Where was shutting mammography at Woden Valley Hospital in any policy?

MR BERRY: Where was closing Charnwood High School?

MR SPEAKER: How is this relevant?

MR BERRY: Bill Stefaniak went out there and won a 10 per cent swing on, "I will not close Charnwood High School". Harold Hird was elected on that basis.

MR SPEAKER: Relevance, Mr Berry.

Mr De Domenico: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Can I suggest that Mr Berry be asked to talk on the Public Sector Management (Amendment) Bill? As much as he would hate the wise decision that the Government did make about Charnwood High, can you alert him to the fact that we are discussing the Public Sector Management (Amendment) Bill?

MR SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

MR BERRY: Would you allow me to defend my side of the point of order? Mr Moore was allowed to enter the debate and talk about the electoral swing at the last election. I am merely drawing attention to the fallacy of that argument. The argument was allowed initially. A defence should be allowed as well.

MR SPEAKER: Charnwood High is not relevant to this debate.

MR BERRY: This is an issue about an ideological position and how many people are going to support that ideological position. Mr Moore is going to assist the conservatives opposite in their agenda and help them to introduce it by way of change to the employment status of senior public servants in the ACT Government Service. That is his entitlement. But I cannot sit quietly by and allow him to get away with the argument that, because you have seven votes in this Assembly, you have a majority. Ten votes clearly outvotes seven. Mr Moore cannot continue to push that argument. If he is locked ideologically into the position of the Liberals, he is in.

MR MOORE (10.55): It is important to rise to clarify an issue or two. When we are dealing with administration and public sector management, it is the role of this Assembly to delegate the power therein to the Government. However, that does not mean that we do not retain the power to modify anything that the Government is doing in this regard, particularly with reference to legislation that is brought before us. The point which I was making and which is a little bit difficult for Mr Berry to comprehend is that, as far as possible, I am prepared to allow the Government to govern. That does not mean that I will not modify the position if I think that is appropriate.

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