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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 772 ..

MR KAINE: I suppose if the Labor Party continues this they will successfully destroy Mr Flutter's integrity. I presume that is what they are on about.

Mr Whitecross: It is your integrity. We want to expose your lack of integrity. You are the one without integrity in this.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Kaine is answering the question. Will you be quiet, Mr Whitecross.

MR KAINE: The personal denigration - - -

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Mr Whitecross said that Mr Kaine lacks integrity. That is a very personal reflection. I ask that he be gracious enough to withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Under standing order 55. Mr Whitecross, withdraw. Personal reflections are out of order.

Mr Whitecross: Mr Speaker, I withdraw any reflection on Mr Kaine's integrity.

MR KAINE: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you, Mr Whitecross. The sort of personal denigration that Mr Whitecross seems determined to embark on is not going to achieve him anything in this issue, any more than it is Mr Berry.

I read with interest what was said in this statement put out by Mr Gilmour. I read that as meaning that in view of the changes that are taking place within ACTION - and there are a lot of things taking place there - Mr Flutter had determined to go, but of course he does have a contract and that contract can be terminated only with his agreement. It means nothing more and nothing less than that. I cannot, and nor can Mr Gilmour, unilaterally - - -

Mr Berry: You are going nowhere, pal. Hanging him upside down out the window, you said, "We will let you go soon".

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR KAINE: This is one of the greatest beat-ups that I have seen the Labor Party engage in, frankly. There is absolutely no substance to it. I am not too sure, Mr Speaker, what it is they hope to gain by it. If all they are trying to do is to destroy my integrity, they will fail. Too many people in this town know me to believe this kind of smear tactic. It will have no effect. While it disturbs me, I am not worried at all about the outcome of that. This sort of thing simply rebounds on the people who throw the mud. It is starting to stick on you, Mr Berry, and you, Mr Whitecross. I have nothing to hide in connection with the decision by Mr Flutter to go elsewhere. You can attack me personally, you can question my integrity and you can throw the mud at me as hard and for as long as you like; but it will have no effect and I will do nothing but do what I have done up until now. I will give you the truth of the matter and nothing less.

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