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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1744 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

show that he really means what he says about regional development. He can get up in this place and say, "I apologise for what Ms McRae said". Mr Speaker, a bit of leadership from those on the opposite side of this place is desperately needed, and it is about time Mr Whitecross showed some.

MR BERRY: I have a question to Mr Humphries in his capacity as Minister for the Environment. Minister, in statements to the media you have said that the proposed $8 entry fee to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve will cover the complete costs of the new projects you announced in the Assembly on 13 May. How is it that you are so confident when the draft plan of management prepared by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service for Tidbinbilla, and personally endorsed by you, indicates that "imposing access charges could decrease visitor numbers in the short term"?

MR HUMPHRIES: You are reading the document out of context. It said that there was a potential for that to happen, but it also said that in the long term the proposal is a positive one. Read the whole document; do not quote just bits of it.

MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question. As you appear so confident, as you are oozing confidence that the entrance fees will cover the complete costs of these projects, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service must have prepared information on the number of visitors to Tidbinbilla next year. Has this actually been done, and have they taken into account a possible reduction in visitors, and thus in revenue, due to the new entry fee? Will you undertake to provide this information supplied to you to the Assembly by the close of business today?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the information about visitor numbers at Tidbinbilla is contained in the document that Mr Berry has just quoted from. Go back and read it.

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, he has no point of order. He is going to ask another question. He does not have the entitlement to do that under standing orders.

Mr Berry: No, I am not. I want to draw Mr Humphries's attention to the question that I asked. I want the figures that I mentioned provided to the Assembly by the close of business today. Will you do it?

MR HUMPHRIES: I heard what you said. Mr Speaker, I repeat my point: This is not a point of order. It is an abuse of standing orders and I would ask you not to allow that sort of abuse to go on.

Mr Berry: No; just answer the question. Just get him to answer the question.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, resume your seat. Mr Humphries is answering the supplementary question quite adequately.

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