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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2512 ..

Mr Whitecross: Have the police got involved yet?

Mrs Littlewood: We think you are a joke, Mr Berry.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR HUMPHRIES: Those opposite clearly seem to believe - - -

Mr Corbell: I take a point of order.

MR SPEAKER: Just a moment. Settle down. Order!

Mr Corbell: Mr Speaker, the Attorney-General has just indicated that there is no criminal action pending in this matter, so what has it to do with him?

MR HUMPHRIES: No, I did not. I did not say that at all.

MR SPEAKER: He is answering a question. You asked for an answer. You did not ask for an answer only if something was going to happen. Continue, Mr Humphries.

Mr Whitecross: Only if something is relevant to his portfolio.

Ms McRae: Only if something is relevant to his portfolio. Mr Speaker, we still have no understanding whatsoever of what relevance this has to Mr Humphries's portfolio. He has written to the vice-chancellor. What has that to do with his portfolio?

MR SPEAKER: Mr Humphries is in the middle of answering a question, if the Opposition will give him the chance to do so. I suggest that they do. Otherwise some members might not be asking questions today.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I will repeat my advice to the Assembly so that Mr Corbell and Ms McRae can hear clearly what I have said. I have not said that the AFP have replied to me. I have said that the vice-chancellor has replied to me. I have asked the AFP to investigate the matter and I have written to the vice-chancellor of the ANU to ask him what action he intends to take against any student found to have been involved. I received his response recently and he informed me that he would not be able to take any further action. Obviously, I was disappointed at this; but I am not sure what further action I am able to take in respect of this matter.

Mr Whitecross: To get to the nub of the matter.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR HUMPHRIES: I have written, however, one other letter in relation to this matter, to which - - -

Mr Berry: Why did you not say, "Wouldn't you be disappointed, Mr Humphries, if the vice-chancellor said he could do nothing"?

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