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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1469 ..

Amendment No. 2 (Mrs Carnell's) negatived.

MR SPEAKER: There is a typographical error in paragraph (4). Is it the wish of the Assembly to omit the word "Assembly", second occurring, and substitute the word "Committee"?

Leave granted.

MR BERRY (11.51), by leave: Mr Speaker, I move:

Paragraph (3), omit "13 May 1997", substitute "15 May 1997".

This amendment merely alters the date by which members have to indicate their interest in being on this committee.

In winding up debate on the issue, I thank members for their support for the establishment of this committee. It is, nevertheless, a grave disappointment to me that the Health Minister and Chief Minister of the Territory, in a most sneaky fashion, would encourage the signing of contracts on the eve of a committee of inquiry into the matter. I repeat that the Canberra Hospital circulated to the residents of nearby suburbs, or at least Garran - - -

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, I take a point of order on the ground of relevance. Is there any relevance in Mr Berry's remarks to changing the date from 13 May to 15 May?

MR SPEAKER: There is certainly repetition involved.

MR BERRY: I am winding up as well.

MR SPEAKER: You certainly are.

MR BERRY: Would you like me to crank it up a bit further? It is a matter of great disappointment to me that such a sneaky act was carried out. It flies in the face of the commitment that Mrs Carnell gave repeatedly to the people of the ACT that she would be open and consultative. How many of us still have that ringing in our ears? We are reminded that none of those promises meant anything. Certainly, the people of Garran - an area which I understand that you, Mr Speaker, are particularly interested in - will be disappointed with the Chief Minister's approach as well. To tell the community that you are negotiating one day and ask them for their input and sign the contract a day or so later is an outrage.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

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