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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3177 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

I hear second-hand that Mr Humphries made some comments on 2CN this morning in which he suggested that we were being dishonourable; that we were not honouring pairs; that we had broken a convention of the parliament; and that we were being downright rotten scoundrels and so on. Quite frankly, I would have thought that the Manager of Government Business would have checked his facts before making such comments. If he had checked with me first, he would have understood, for instance, that we are honouring the pair that is currently in operation while Mr Hird is away on Commonwealth Parliamentary Association business. Before Mr Hird and I agreed on the pair, I did indicate to Mr Hird what the new arrangements would be. I said that we would honour the pair but no longer honour pairs in relation to procedural votes, as that was a decision of my party room. Mr Hird accepted that. Mr Hird had no problem with that and said, "Yes, that is fine, Simon. Just put it in writing". I subsequently did that. As Mr Hird was absent, I sent it to Mr Humphries and I gave a copy to Mr Hird's office and to my own leader.

I find it distressing that the Manager of Government Business is not prepared to communicate with parties on this side of the house before he goes public on this sort of matter. If he had checked the facts, he would not have been caught deliberately misleading the community. He is very big about checking facts when it comes to having a go at this side of the house; but he does not really practise what he preaches, and he did not on this occasion. I am extremely dismayed that he took this step. I hope that he is able to reconsider his position on this matter.

MRS LITTLEWOOD (5.55): I rise this evening to advise the Assembly of the achievements of a remarkable and talented young man. To me, this young man represents the best of what Canberra is and what Canberra has to offer. Todd Wright of Kambah, a student of Lake Tuggeranong College, won the National 1997 Plan for Your Own Business/Enterprise Plan of the Year Award. The award was presented to him in Coffs Harbour yesterday by the National Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand. Todd is a product of the public school system and is one of the most motivated and capable young men I have ever met. I congratulate Todd on his win and I wish him every success in what I believe will be a very bright future. He is an exceptional young person. Todd is what I believe is the power of Canberra.

MR OSBORNE (5.56): Mr Speaker, you will recall that last sitting week I spoke about an unnamed solicitor. I said that this person would be well advised to come and speak to me and tell me why I should not name him. This person took up that offer. Very late on Friday he rang my office and came in this morning at 9.30. We had a very lengthy meeting. The issue was basically about some advice that he had given to the executor of a will who potentially was going to lose $20,000.

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