Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 3758 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I stand by the Liberal Party's record in government on these matters. We have not solved the problems of mental health in this Territory; but I would say, with respect, that it is rich for our opposite numbers over there to attack on this question when they had nearly four years to resolve these issues and did not do so. The only significant achievement they could point to after four years was the Mental Health Treatment Act and very little else.

Mr Berry: Not bad.

MR HUMPHRIES: It was not bad, but it was not particularly an exclusive achievement. Lots of people in the Assembly were involved in doing that. There was no particular exclusivity about that achievement. The interesting point about the record we have heard in this place is that there has always been a willingness from Mr Berry to attack the record of the Liberal Party, even though his own party does not agree with his position on it. Mr Berry attacked our record in government during the Alliance Government days. At the same time, Mr Connolly, as the incoming Attorney-General in the new Labor Government in 1991, commended the Alliance Government for its achievements in the area of mental health.

Mr Berry: That was a mistake, was it not?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry thinks it is a mistake. Perhaps Mr Connolly was more honest than Mr Berry is being now.

I simply want to restate the fact that there is no substance for this motion. By putting it forward, the Greens have again debased the currency of these motions. I do not believe that there will be much that changes as a result of this, and I think that is regrettable, because there is a need for us to be active in this area. We intend to be active and we will be active, but not because of motions like this on the floor of the Assembly. Finally, a piece of advice to Mr Berry: The mentioning of the form of people being tried in our courts leads to a mistrial because it prejudices the hearing of the facts in a matter. That is what is happening here. It is clear prejudices against the views - - -

Mr Berry: In the Magistrates Court they take form into account.

MR HUMPHRIES: Only after the trial, Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: Yes, that is right; they take it into account.

MR HUMPHRIES: The trial is still going on here, is it not? I think we are going to get an acquittal, or at least a not proven verdict. I think it is most unfortunate that we have wasted so much time today on this motion. I would urge the Assembly to dismiss the motion and to proceed to the real matters of importance today. I would have thought the next item on the agenda was really of far more significance and importance to our community than this item, and I hope we will proceed to that fairly quickly.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .