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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2975 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

in this Bill came out of the joint Government-industry working party. I would certainly like to thank all of those people involved in the working party. I think that this is a good Bill. It makes clear to the community just what the clubs are contributing and just why their monopoly on poker machines is in the community's best interest.

MR BERRY (Leader of the Opposition) (7.13): I seek leave to speak on the in-principle stage.

Leave granted.

Mrs Carnell: We are much nicer than you are.

Ms McRae: That will be the day.

MR BERRY: As you say, Ms McRae, that will be the day. You should have a look at yourself in the mirror one day, Mrs Carnell.

Mr Speaker, this legislation will be opposed by the Labor Party. The licensed clubs, of course, would not oppose this, because then they would be accused of trying to hide something.

Mr Moore: Someone could accuse you of a conflict of interest.

MR BERRY: They will not come out en masse and say that - - -

Ms McRae: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Does your ruling about no interjections still stand or not?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, it certainly does. I refresh everybody's memory.

MR BERRY: Clubs that would willingly give information about this matter but have not been approached would be puzzled by the attitude of members in this Assembly. Let us go back to some of the matters of historical significance. The struggle between the Government and the licensed clubs began when Mrs Carnell indicated that she was about to break a promise made before the last election - a promise not only made by Mrs Carnell but also made by Mr Stefaniak - that she would not change the arrangements which applied to poker machines as between licensed clubs, pubs, the casino and so on. Mr Hird would remember that clearly, as a prominent person around some clubs in the ACT. I recall it very clearly and I recall the joy of my local club at - - -

Mr Hird: The Labor Club.

MR BERRY: No; my local club is the West Belconnen Leagues Club, Mr Hird. I distinctly recall their joy at the prospect of neither major political party undoing the longstanding relationship about poker machines in the ACT. But not long after, Mrs Carnell was on a course of abandoning her promise. Mr Stefaniak, who had promised the same as she had, was not able to put the brakes on her, or was not trying,

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