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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1859 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry has always moved, as I recall, motions of censure in this place on behalf of the Labor Party. He is the only one that does so. I do not think anybody on that side of the chamber has ever moved a censure motion, except for Mr Berry. If it is all right for the Manager of Opposition Business to move a censure motion, why is it not all right for the Manager of Government Business to move a censure motion?

Mr De Domenico: Because they do not like it.

MR HUMPHRIES: Because they do not like it. They want to organise the way that this goes ahead. If you are serious about wanting a censure motion, then stop stalling and get on with the motion.

MS TUCKER (11.02): Mr Speaker, the Greens have reconsidered their position on this, for two main reasons.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Tucker, I am advised that you have to seek leave to speak, as Mr Humphries has closed the debate.

MS TUCKER: I seek leave.

Leave granted.

MS TUCKER: Mr Berry asked that we have due regard to the fact that he should be able to ask his attacker to put the case. I am sure that she will. She is not usually shy about coming forward on these sorts of topics. However, what I have due regard for also is the fact that we have an opportunity to hear both sides of this issue clearly articulated. Yesterday Mr Humphries had his name at the end of this motion. I assume that he is the one who is prepared, and it seems to the Greens to be a reasonable process that people do have a choice about who is preparing the case. Because we wish to be able to make an informed decision at the end of this debate, we think it is reasonable that he have the right to put forward the case first.

I would also say that we were offered a briefing by the Liberals yesterday. They did not offer it to us this morning, which I find disappointing. I came in especially with that in my diary. We have not had the opportunity to hear it. By stretching it out over the day we are giving more opportunity for Mr Berry to be talked about, slandered - whatever you want to call it. So we are prepared to support the proposal that this be discussed this morning, for that reason. We have been given a commitment from the Labor Party and Mr Moore that the time for private members business will be extended so that we can discuss the other important matters here later in the day.

Question resolved in the affirmative, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

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