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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2816 ..

MRS CARNELL: You will have to argue that with the radio station. It seems that the Labor Party's focus on jobs does not include the hundreds of new jobs generated by the construction and operation of this $20m facility. The focus on health does not include the provision of a major new health facility at no cost to the taxpayer, a new facility that will provide more choice for Canberrans and that will inject revenue into the public hospital system.

But, quite apart from my concern that Mr Berry's newfound supposed focus on jobs and health clearly does not extend to jobs or health care services in the private sector, there was also a more serious concern relating to - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I rise - - -

MR SPEAKER: Are you taking a point of order?

Mr Berry: Yes, I do take a point of order. I redraw your attention to the issue that you raised earlier on, namely, that proceedings in committee not reported to the Assembly should not be referred to in questions.

Mr Humphries: This is not the issue. It is not the issue.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, very clearly the - - -

Mr Kaine: It should not be being dealt with on public radio, either.

MRS CARNELL: Or in the newspaper. Or in articles in the newspaper.

Mr Berry: Why not? Where is the standing order that says you cannot do that?

MRS CARNELL: There is not, and that is all I am talking about.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, I was drawing attention to the fact that the rules for questions indicate that questions shall not refer to proceedings in committee not reported to the Assembly. Had that been the case, that would have been out of order; but Mr Hird tells me that he heard it on radio, so the Chief Minister is quite within her rights to answer the question.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I have not been privy to any of the carryings-on that occurred in the committee process, so I am only reacting to media outlets. Those opposite seem very happy to quote those in question time quite regularly, Mr Speaker. I could also quote an article that was written in the Canberra Times and in which Mr Berry was very clear about his views in this particular area. I believe very strongly that the committee system is very important.

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