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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 812 ..

Mr Moore: How is cash for questions democracy at work?

MR BERRY: No; the fact of the matter is that the people in the United Kingdom are about to vote on what sorts of politicians they want. The frailties of the Conservatives have been exposed, and I suspect they are going to get thrown out.

Mr Speaker, the situation in the ACT is very clear. The Labor Party has never denied its attachment to the Labor Club. In fact, the Labor Club was developed by a bunch of Labor Party people who wanted a club which expanded Labor's interests and philosophies throughout the Territory. The Labor Club makes donations to the Labor Party because it is the party which is acting consistently with the objectives of the Labor Club; it is their football team, if you like. We have no direct interest in this issue.

I think Mr Osborne has decided that he is not going to vote on this motion. I do not think Mr Osborne should worry about it, because the money he receives from the club is - - -

Ms Tucker: He is voting on the motion.

MR BERRY: Is he? Well, he expressed a view about his perceived conflict of interest. I do not think he should concern himself with it, and he should be voting on this motion. He receives the income from the club, quite openly, and he plays football for it. If he stops playing football they will stop paying him; it is as simple as that. He has declared his position. In due course he will go to an election and people will decide whether or not he has done the right thing.

The same applies in respect of the Labor Party. This motion, of course, is a lie because it says:

... receive a substantial financial benefit as members of the Australian Labor Party ...

I have not received a financial benefit. I have not received a substantial - - -

Mrs Carnell: You get paid.

MR BERRY: Nobody is paying me, except the people of the ACT.

Mr Whitecross: The motion is wrong.

MR BERRY: The motion is wrong; it is stupid. It is stupid, wrong and vindictive, and it is a lie that is being put about this place by the Liberals and Michael Moore. It is a lie in respect of Mr Osborne as well. It reads:

... currently receives a substantial remuneration that is primarily derived from gaming machines;

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