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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1824 ..

MRS CARNELL: Fairly obviously, we would not be looking at ways to fund the service if the report to determine whether there was a need for it had said that there was not. There is, without any doubt, a need for a service - - -

Ms McRae: Well, fund it.

MRS CARNELL: Just fund it. It is a pity that those opposite certainly did not take that advice when they were in government. I may have indicated to the Assembly that the report from the Deafness Resource Centre on the needs assessment of a sign interpreter service was actually back. I am informed that the final report has yet to be received by the department.

I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS

MR BERRY: I seek leave to make a personal explanation pursuant to standing order 46.

MR SPEAKER: You may do so.

MR BERRY: In the wake of Mrs Carnell's failed attempts to impugn both Mr Connolly and me, which you, thankfully, prevented, Mr Speaker, in relation to information that may or may not have been provided to us by the ACT Health administration, I would like to make the Assembly aware that I have phoned and written to the head of ACT Health and demanded an immediate briefing on how ACT Health officials may have misled former Labor Ministers.

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: The previous Minister may have forgotten that Ministers do have responsibility for everything that happens while they are Ministers. To indicate for one moment that departmental officials may have misled anybody is highly improper.

MR SPEAKER: Order! We had a discussion about the word "misled" some little time ago.

MR BERRY: This is not in relation to members; we are talking about people outside the chamber. "May have misled former Labor Ministers", I said. There is nothing improper in that. Even if I had said that they had misled former Labor Ministers, which I did not because that has not been proven yet, Mr Speaker, I would be perfectly able to say that pursuant to the standing orders. Mr Speaker, I have sought an immediate briefing in relation to that matter.

Mr Hird: You have been caught out, Wayne.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

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