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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 3993 ..

Debate resumed from 24 September 1996, on motion by Mr De Domenico:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR OSBORNE (4.12): This, I have to say, has probably been one of the most interesting issues I have been involved in during my time in this Assembly. I adjourned the debate back in September because there were a number of issues I wanted clarified, and I look forward to hearing Mr De Domenico when he closes the debate a little later. There are two issues I would like to raise that revolve around Mrs Carnell's speech on that day, and perhaps she could clarify them later. The first concerns a statutory declaration I have in my possession from Mr Trevor Zeltner of the CFMEU, which relates to something Mrs Carnell said. I am certainly not implying that she misled the Assembly; perhaps she was a little confused, and she can clarify it before the debate is over. Mr Zeltner says in his statutory declaration:

I have read comments made by the Chief Minister Mrs Carnell in the second paragraph on page 16 -

that is of the uncorrected proof copy of Hansard -

where she stated that "Now, the reason for that, Mr Speaker, is that we have been engaged in discussions, not discussions with our own people as Mr Berry said, but discussions with such people as George Wason and all of the people from the CFMEU. Trevor Zeltner, they have all been to my office as well as to Mr De Domenico's on a number of occasions".

Mr Zeltner goes on to say:

I state categorically that Mrs Carnell has never raised the issue of the Long Service Leave money to the MBA ever, whether in person or per telephone. I have been to Mrs Carnell's office on two occasions, one to sign the ACT Government Enterprise Agreement on behalf of the CFMEU on Wednesday 20/5/96 at 6.30 pm where only two issues were discussed:

1. Enterprise Bargaining Agreement

2. National brain injury facility.

The second meeting was on Friday 8/11/96 at 5.30 pm to discuss a CFMEU Organiser being struck by an ACT Government vehicle at 255 Canberra Avenue. I have had a telephone conversation with the Chief Minister where she requested that I speak to George Wason

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