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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 1930 ..

MR BERRY (11.16): I just want to put down once and for all some of the comments that were made by Mr Humphries in relation to this budget. I think he said in the course of his contribution to the debate that there had been consultation with the Assembly. My leader properly points out that what happened in the course of that consultation was that we were told how many dollars the Assembly was going to lose - remember the three-year budget - over the three years. Of course, the Assembly Administration and Procedure Committee said, "We do not like that". The Government said, "Too bad". In effect, that is what happened.

Mr Humphries: "In effect", he says.

MR BERRY: Well, that is what happened. The security arrangements were subsequently reviewed. Ms Tucker raised the point about consultation flowing to and from the Liberal Party. It is not only the Liberal Party that we have to be concerned with - the political machine, the Liberal Party party room, which takes a particular view about the politics of this and conveys a message to the Administration and Procedure Committee - but their staff, who tell us they are worried. Our responsibilities do not end with the political meanderings of the Liberal Party; in fact, they go to our responsibilities of providing the secure arrangements for staff in this place. Mr Humphries conveniently ignored that issue.

One other matter which I would like to draw attention to is the political statements that have been made publicly by the various Liberals - the Chief Minister, Minister Humphries and Mrs Littlewood. We saw a great media stunt at the front of this Assembly, with Mrs Littlewood draped across the Assembly front door under the pretence that she was unable to get in or out of the place - I am not sure which it was - which, of course, was quite untrue. It was difficult to work out which it was. Then Mrs Littlewood said she was so upset by these new security arrangements that she was going to move a motion or put forward a proposition to change it all. I do not know how many months ago that was, but I have not heard a word.

Mrs Littlewood: It is all right; do not worry, Mr Berry; I am biding my time.

MR BERRY: Mrs Littlewood interjects that she is biding her time. She is waiting for the day when she will be able to prove that the security arrangements here are onerous, because at this point she cannot.

Mr Humphries: That happened several months ago, Wayne.

MR BERRY: Mr Humphries interjects - thank you very much, Mr Humphries - that it was several months ago; it has been fixed. Mrs Carnell says, "My children cannot get in". That is quite untrue too. Unless they cannot reach the telephone out there, they can - - -

Mrs Carnell: No, at weekends; there is no-one to ring.

MR BERRY: If there is no-one in here to ring, why would they want to come in here? What a joke!

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