Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (3 December) . . Page.. 4435 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Unfortunately, it seems that the B team are sensible and reasonable and the A team are - well, we will not tell you what the A team are. Unfortunately, it does seem that the communication between Labor A team and Labor B team has broken down somewhat; but it would not be the first time. Of course, it does raise the question of who is setting Labor policy for poker machines. Is it Mr Berry or Mr Quinlan?

Mr Berry: It is Mr Berry.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Berry says, "It is Mr Berry". It is; all right. The fact that Mr Quinlan has actually had some experience in this rules him out. He is out of it because he knows something about it. At the moment, obviously, Mr Berry and Mr Quinlan are completely at odds. Mr Berry says that the party is unmoved and will not move on poker machines; and Mr Quinlan is saying that poker machines in the casino and certain hotels would be supported by sensible and reasonable people.

Mr Osborne: You had better drag him in again, Wayne.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Osborne, stop interjecting.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Quinlan says that sensible and reasonable people would support the licensed clubs' approach, but Mr Berry makes it quite clear that he would not. You could jump to a bit of a conclusion here, Mr Speaker, on what Mr Quinlan thinks about Mr Berry - that he ain't too sensible and reasonable.

Mr Berry, given that this Assembly will be debating this afternoon this issue of access to poker machines, it is those opposite who really do need to detail their policy on this. Mr Berry, though, has said absolutely it is he who makes the decisions on this, not Mr Quinlan at all; but I think perhaps Mr Berry and Mr Quinlan should sit down in the visitors gallery out there and come up with a consistent position here. Mr Berry, given that Mr Quinlan has already been threatened with disendorsement for criticising his leaders, one wonders what this fairly provocative defiance of his leader will bring. Maybe Mr Quinlan believes that being sensible and reasonable is more important. What we seem to have here is a Labor Party where there is no longer just a conflict of interest, there is also a conflict of opinion.

MR SPEAKER: Do you have a supplementary question, Mr Hird?

MR HIRD: Yes. I noted that the Chief Minister referred to a press statement put out by the Leader of the Opposition and an interview which took place, I understand, with Ted Quinlan on 2CC. Could the Minister advise the house by tabling those documents?

MRS CARNELL: With pleasure, Mr Speaker. There are the documents - Mr Berry's press release and the report of Mr Quinlan's interview.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .