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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2811 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

New South Wales, the fact that they also might have a very large job to do here because, for the life of me, I cannot understand why New South Wales would give an exemption to this particular issue when it meant, by its very nature, that New South Wales eggs would no longer be able to be sold in the ACT.

Mr Corbell: Battery eggs.

MRS CARNELL: Battery eggs. It is an important issue.

Mr Moore: Their free-range eggs would be.

MRS CARNELL: Their free-range eggs would be; but a large number of producers in New South Wales would be excluded from selling their eggs in the ACT.

Mr Berry: We know that.

MRS CARNELL: You know that. I understand that. But Ms Horodny somehow seemed to believe that other States and Territories were, by their very nature, just going to tick this off. I have to say that I think that is extremely unlikely, because, if New South Wales, say, excludes some of its producers from selling their product in another State, it brings absolutely no benefit to New South Wales. For a government - say, for me or for anyone on this side of the house - - -

Mr Moore: In financial terms.

MRS CARNELL: I accept what you are saying, Mr Moore.

Mr Berry: You could make up for that with charm and support.

MRS CARNELL: Yes. It works so well on Bob Carr. We have noticed that in recent days. Mr Speaker, I think it is very important for us to - - -

Mr Berry: Charm and enthusiasm for - - -

MR SPEAKER: The charm and enthusiasm, Mr Berry, is not recognised by the Chair; neither is it tolerated.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I think the chance of the New South Wales Government excluding some of its producers from selling their product in another State, with no benefit to New South Wales out of it, would be very small. I think the chance of other States agreeing to this sort of exclusion, taking into account the possible flowthrough of that exclusion into their own States, would be very small indeed, as well. The major reason is that there is no benefit, particularly in New South Wales, but potentially a political downside. You can see what would potentially happen if some producers in this region who have traditionally provided eggs into the ACT market were excluded from doing so, simply on the signature of the Premier. I think it is important to bring those issues to the floor of the Assembly, because it does appear from the debate that many people around here believe that they are going to sign this off. I would suggest that the chances would be extremely slim.

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