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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2477 ..

MS McRAE (6.52): Mr Speaker, I was not given the opportunity to say a word this afternoon, yet what Mrs Carnell thought of my actions was well and truly put on the record. I found her claims outrageous. It was in question time that the accusations were made. She had every opportunity to say there and then, "I do not like your question. I do not like your sources. I do not like your allegations". She did not. She simply did not say, "I do not know what you are talking about". She did not admit to not having done any homework, and we see from what Mr Berry has now pointed out so cogently that there were plenty of things to be absolutely worried about and that the accusation of tax rort was spot on.

We have seen that this is a government that is willing to leap in with no probity checks, with no thorough examination of whom it is calling in to be consultants. It shows no concern even when questions are asked and treats this Assembly with contempt. It then attributes to us motives which are entirely inappropriate. We did not act recklessly. We acted on clear information which was correct. All the public commentary that I have heard since the wine box inquiry, certainly in Australia, has been that it is a very questionable interpretation of tax law that has been going on, and the practices are no longer accepted in contemporary tax law.

All the Chief Minister has done today is reinforce how foolishly she behaves in question time, how badly she regards this Assembly, and how little time she is willing to spend just thinking a bit before she leaps in and makes accusations about other members and their motives. Her actions today were reprehensible. The withdrawal of the motion was proof that she had leapt in without thinking of the consequences. I, for one, have nothing to apologise for.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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