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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (17 June) . . Page.. 1600 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

that it deserves. Mr Speaker, I repeat that I had requested that Mrs Carnell seek leave to bring it on straightaway. I cannot be held responsible for the lack of communication between the manager of Government business and the Chief Minister. Mr Speaker, I therefore, reluctantly, have moved this motion, and I urge members to support it.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (10.35): Mr Speaker, I want to put the record straight on a couple of things. Mr Berry rang my office this morning, while the bells were ringing, to say that he wanted to bring this on.

Mr Berry: No. That is not true, Gary, and you know it.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Humphries has the floor.

MR HUMPHRIES: I did not take the phone call. I was sitting at my desk while the bells were ringing and someone came in and said to me, "Wayne has just rung and said this ...". I was told while the bells were ringing this morning. Mr Speaker, I was not told any reasons in advance. I was simply told that the Labor Party wanted to bring the matter on early. That is the position. There were no reasons advanced for that happening. The matter is on the program today. If the Labor Party wants to bring it forward, I think that is fine; but I think it is more of a courtesy to do it in time to be able to discuss it with other members rather than indicate their intention to do something at very short notice. I was in my office at the time Mr Berry called. Had he asked to speak to me, I would have happily discussed it with him.

The weekly program, Mr Speaker, was agreed before. As I understand it, it was agreed that there would be the presentation of the Estimates Committee report because that is what the Labor Party asked for. The Labor Party said that the first thing they wanted was - - -

Ms McRae: I did not. Who asked you?

MR HUMPHRIES: You were not at the Government business meeting last Friday.

Mr Berry: I made no such request. You were not there either.

MR HUMPHRIES: I understand that the request of the Labor Party was that the first thing to be dealt with was the Estimates Committee report.

Ms McRae: We did not. You "understand".

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Humphries has the floor.

MR HUMPHRIES: I think someone has had a very bad weekend, Mr Speaker, and I do not know what has got them on edge. Maybe they have seen a bad survey of some sort that has got them on edge.

Ms McRae: No; it is your sweet little face that turns us sour.

MR HUMPHRIES: Oh, dear!

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