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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3299 ..

MR SPEAKER: I am trying to hear the question.

Mr Corbell: If you would direct Mrs Littlewood not to provoke - - -

MR SPEAKER: Ask your question, Mrs Littlewood.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: My question is to the Chief Minister. In the past few days we have seen a pathetic - I stress the word "pathetic" - exercise by Mr Whitecross and Mr Berry, who have made it abundantly clear that if Labor are in government - heaven help us - after next year's election they will put Canberra out of the 2000 Olympic Games. Can the Chief Minister inform members what reaction she has received from the sporting community and whether Labor's claim that the Olympics will cost the ACT taxpayers $42m is correct?

MRS CARNELL: You can only laugh at those opposite and the absolutely remarkable claims they make. Mr Speaker, it is a great tragedy that the ACT seems to have lost the bipartisan political support for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Across the border in New South Wales we see both the Government and the Opposition working together to make the Olympics a success. But here in the ACT, where we have bid for and won the right to host 11 Olympic soccer matches, we find the Labor Opposition doing their absolute level best to pull Canberra out of the Olympics. I only hope Mr Berry has warned his Labor colleague Michael Knight, the New South Wales Olympics Minister, that if Labor is elected to govern the ACT next year Canberra will be pulling out of the Olympics, because that is what the Labor Party, clearly, is committed to.

Mr Speaker, the Labor Party's concerted opposition to Canberra being part of the Olympics has been roundly condemned by the ACT sporting community, and rightly so. I noted that Mr Whitecross left early from a function last night to launch the Canberra Cosmos season. I understand why he left early. So did Ms McRae.

Mr Whitecross: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I noticed that the Chief Minister arrived late.

MRS CARNELL: That is not a point of order.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Sit down.

MRS CARNELL: I understand why Mr Whitecross left, because he certainly came in for some heavy criticism from the soccer fraternity. I would like to table these, Mr Speaker. I am sure all of those opposite are interested in a selection of letters and media releases that have been sent to my office, objecting to the Labor Party's stand.

Ms McRae: I did not hear a word of criticism.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

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