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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 1953 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

Later on, Totalcare was asked what the details of the settlement dispute were. This is because Mrs Carnell had said that it ought to be referred to Mr Kaine's portfolio. I read from the committee report at paragraph 3.45:

While the Chief Minister had claimed this was a demarcation dispute between two unions, it was confirmed to the committee that the dispute was about jobs in the ACT, with evidence that the dispute was about the amount of work contracted out to a Newcastle contractor instead of to ACT haulage contractors. It was confirmed that local haulage contractors will now be employed on the site.

Did the Chief Minister deliberately mislead the house? Did the Chief Minister, when she said that it was a fight between two unions - - -

MR SPEAKER: That is a rhetorical question, I trust, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Indeed.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, rhetorical it may be, but it is an assertion by a rhetorical question. By its nature, a rhetorical question is not meant to be answered. It is obviously an assertion, and it should be withdrawn.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, Mr Humphries has asked that it be withdrawn.

MR BERRY: Mr Humphries is quite a bit precious about this; and I would be, too, because there is something to be precious about. I withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Are you going to withdraw it?

MR BERRY: I have done it.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

MR BERRY: The fact of the matter is that the information provided to this Assembly has the potential of misleading it, because it was incorrect. Whether that was deliberate or - - -

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Is Mr Berry suggesting that I direct public servants to lie in the Estimates Committee? If he is, I would ask him to withdraw that totally.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, the rhetorical question that I raised is as follows: The information that was given to this Assembly was incorrect. It was not about a dispute between two unions. Was the - - -

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, on a point of order - - -

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