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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (5 November) . . Page.. 3616 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I do not agree with it. The issue that we are faced with now is that John Howard has come up with some funding. He is putting back some money that he took out many times over before. This merely points to the hypocrisy of John Howard's actions in the current debate.

Let us go to Mrs Carnell's first amendment. It is ridiculous to include my name alongside John Howard's. I am not sure that John Howard would be too happy about that, but I certainly am not. I am disappointed that the Greens have decided to support Mrs Carnell's amendment without having first listened to what I have to say about the matter. It suggests that some other agenda is afoot when they do not listen to the facts on the record. Mrs Carnell referred to a press release which I issued in relation to the Labor Party's position. It is headed "Labor's push to get back to the issues that effect Canberran's everyday lives" and reads:

ACT Labor Leader Wayne Berry today announced his Party's acceptance that there is nothing more that the ACT Legislative Assembly can do on the issues of the heroin trial and euthanasia, and the Party's intention to focus on the important issues that affect people's everyday lives.

"We have to accept that there is nothing more that the ACT Assembly can do to achieve a heroin trial or the right to legislate on euthanasia. It is time to move on ...

"While I am disappointed that John Howard has ripped away our right to legislate on euthanasia and to conduct a heroin trial, it is time that the ACT Assembly focused on issues that we can effect rather than those we cannot.

"As a legislature, we should get back to doing what we were elected to do - governing the territory instead of being diverted by issues that we cannot change.

Mrs Carnell: What are you doing this morning?

MR BERRY: The press release continues:

Our energy, time and resources would be better utilised in securing a better economic future for Territorians.

Mrs Carnell interjects, "What are you doing this morning?". Mrs Carnell, I am not dealing with the heroin trial. I am dealing with the drug issue in the ACT, which you have failed on. The press release further states:

"We must rebuild our economy, we must create jobs, we must revitalise local business and we must begin constructing a better future for the Territory. This is Labor's focus - nothing less. They are the most important issues facing the ACT and it is time business in the ACT Assembly reflected that.

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