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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3319 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

And in the matter of an application to declare the award a common rule of the Australian Capital Territory in the health and welfare services industry.

Take notice that the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister claims to be interested in, and desires to be heard on the hearing of, the application in the above matter.

The objection relates to the following matter - - -

Mrs Carnell: They are just standard words, Wayne. You know that.

MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell says that it is the standard clause. Yes, it is the standard clause when you object, that is, oppose. The notice goes on to say:

Many of the community service organisations are reliant upon ACT Government budgetary assistance to provide part or all of their ongoing funds. Application of common rule may threaten the viability of these community organisations and the services they provide to the community through the mandatory application of this award across the Territory.

It is dated 3 September 1997 and signed by an officer, whose name I cannot discern from the signature, for and on behalf of the ACT Chief Minister. Let me repeat that this is an objection, on the prescribed form, to an application for a common rule; that is, it is a "notice of appearance to object to an application for common rule". Mrs Carnell said:

" ... The Government's position is the same as it has been for a number of years now".

The position we have taken is that we do not support or oppose ...

"We do not support or oppose", Mrs Carnell brazenly said in this Assembly yesterday; yet on 3 September the Government submitted a "notice of appearance to object to an application for common rule". You clearly misled us yesterday. You deliberately misled us yesterday. Clearly, that is an act of contempt for this Assembly and it is a clear and deliberate mislead. There is absolutely no doubt at all about this.

Mr Kaine, I suspect that your crime in this matter is somewhat less than that of the Chief Minister. Your crime was believing what you were told. Mr Kaine said:

But let me make it quite clear that the Government does not oppose the implementation of a common rule for the social and community services award.

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