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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (17 June) . . Page.. 1642 ..

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

MR HUMPHRIES: It was in the newspapers, and I am happy to comment upon it.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, it was a question that asked for a legal opinion in the context of the Act and is, therefore, out of order.

Mr Whitecross: If Gary wants to announce Labor Party policy, that is okay with me.

MR SPEAKER: No; this is not Labor Party policy. That is why I asked whether it was in the newspaper. If it was, it is perfectly reasonable that somebody should raise the question.

MR HUMPHRIES: I can understand the sensitivity, Mr Speaker; I know what it is like.

Ms McRae: The sensitivity is much stronger on your side - 78 per cent recognition, and 21 per cent vote. That is fantastic! No wonder you are jumpy!

MR SPEAKER: Would you mind proceeding to answer Mrs Littlewood's question, Mr Humphries.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, looking at the provisions of the ALP's resolution on the weekend, I was - - -

Members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Would you all like to go outside and have a talk, or would you like to let Mr Humphries answer the question.

Mrs Littlewood: Mr Speaker, could I have my question answered.

MR SPEAKER: Yes.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I would be very happy to answer Mrs Littlewood's question; to express my surprise at the attack on countback that took place at the Labor Party conference; to indicate that I think the Labor Party would have difficulties in repealing what is an essential element of the Tasmanian Hare-Clark electoral system which we have adopted in the ACT; and to indicate that that kind of attitude is at least perplexing to those who heard the Labor Party declare in 1995 that they supported, and indeed were prepared to help entrench, key features of an electoral system which included countback.

Mr Moore: How reluctantly?

MR HUMPHRIES: How reluctantly indeed.

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