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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (27 June) . . Page.. 2415 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

Ms Horodny made a great deal out of local employment as it related to the sorts of produce and goods that supermarkets sell. She made a great deal out of the fact that some of this stuff came from Sydney. How awful. We just do not put the baked beans in the tins here. The stuff has to come from somewhere else.

Ms Horodny: We produce meat here, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: I regret having to pour a bucket or two on you, but you leave yourself open to ridicule with some of the - - -

Mr Humphries: Yes, he really regrets pouring a bucket. You know how Wayne hates pouring buckets on people. He really feels badly about this. You can see the tears in his eyes as he is doing this.

MR BERRY: The Greens have to wear the consequences of supporting this stupid Bill. There is no question about that.

Mr Humphries: So they will get the kudos from it, will they?

MR BERRY: The Liberal Party knows that it is already wearing the consequences of this stupid Bill. Because it is in a bit of a panic it has decided to support this committee process which will create a bit of a smokescreen that they care about what is really going on. Then, just in case this thing carries on, there is a sunset clause which means that if this Assembly cannot change it, well, it will change automatically just after the next election. How cynical.

Mr Whitecross: All the small businesses will have gone broke in two years' time.

MR BERRY: Yes. How cynical.

Mr Moore: Just after the next election.

MR BERRY: Yes. How cynical. How is it possible for our Green colleagues in this place to support such a sham? It does not achieve what the Greens want, and it will never achieve what the Greens want. In fact, it will do the reverse. It will badly affect a number of small businesses, particularly in your electorate, Ms Horodny, and we will draw it to their attention too; do not worry about that. The Greens have to be made aware of it because this will hasten their demise.

There is another thing I want to draw attention to, the 300 jobs that have been talked about. Yes, the report that was developed by Price Waterhouse was commissioned by the Australian Supermarket Institute and, yes, the Supermarket Institute has a vested interest; but I have to say to you, and Mr Humphries would agree, that Price Waterhouse have a little bit invested in their business. They would want to see their claims stand up and they would not want to be ridiculed completely. So, let us say that the 300 jobs they claim is 10 per cent out. It could be 330, it could be 270, but in any case a lot of people are going to be hurt. Let us look at that in the context of the situation here in the ACT.

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