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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (3 December) . . Page.. 4522 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Whilst there are some questions in my mind about whether that is the best system that we can operate, I can understand that kind of donation and I can understand why people do that. They believe that their interests and the interests of the sector of the community they represent or they are interested in are best represented by that particular party. But when a group donates to two separate parties, both seeking government, then we have to ask ourselves: What are they trying to achieve? Clearly, what they are trying to achieve is some kind of political influence. If that is what they are trying to achieve, then there is carried within that the notion of a bribe. Mr Speaker, I am not suggesting that the party accepting it - - -

Ms McRae: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I do not ask you to rule straightaway; but I do ask you to consider this very profoundly. My motives are being impugned at the moment, I believe. What I am asking you to rule on is: Are my motives being impugned or not? The donations to my party are made in an open way. They are clearly accountable under the Electoral Act. I derive no personal benefit from them. I do nothing in this house according to the wishes of any directors of clubs or associations that donate money. Having said that, let me say that in what Mr Moore is saying there is an imputation that there is a clear connection between what is given to my party, or to the Liberal Party, by the clubs and our policies, and therefore it is a bribe. As I say, I do not seek to stop Mr Moore right now; but I ask you to consider that question profoundly and come back with a ruling on it, because I do believe that it does carry very nasty overtones about my particular motives, which I seek to not have impugned in such a way.

MR SPEAKER: I would be happy to consider it - unless, of course, Mr Moore wishes to make it clear that he is not impugning anybody in this chamber.

MR MOORE: I do not wish to make that clear, Mr Speaker. It seems to me that there is a clear conflict of interest that people in here have in voting on this. Mr Osborne has recognised it. I think it is a clear conflict of interest - - -

MR SPEAKER: In which case, to answer your question, Ms McRae, I will consider it. Continue, Mr Moore.

MR MOORE: I must say, Mr Speaker, that the direction - - -

Ms McRae: Mr Speaker, on another point of order: Mr Moore has now notched it up a step further. He says that, unlike Mr Osborne, I do have a clear conflict of interest. Unlike Mr Osborne, I do not receive any personal income from the clubs. There is a clear difference - - -

MR MOORE: I recognise that.

Ms McRae: I have heard Mr Moore now interject that he recognises that. Could you ask him to simply withdraw the imputation that I am like Mr Osborne and receive money, and therefore have a conflict of interest? I leave the other, broader question in your hands.

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