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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (3 December) . . Page.. 4527 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

Mrs Carnell pointed out only yesterday that the president of the Canberra Labor Club has a different view from members of this place in relation to gaming machine policy. While the situation exists that the president of the Labor Club can have a different opinion from us and that the Licensed Clubs Association can have a different opinion from us, it seems to me to be stretching the argument to suggest that in some way we are beholden to these groups. We will continue to judge issues according to what we believe the public interest to be. In our conduct, from the beginning of the year when these issues first emerged on the agenda in their current form, we have certainly been trying to craft policies which we believe are in the public interest.

In closing, let me just say that Mr Moore, while he was talking about possible conflicts of interests, certainly did not remind members of this place, although he has said it in this place in the past, that the Australian Hotels Association drafted the legislation for him and paid for it for him. I am not suggesting that Mr Moore got a direct personal benefit from that, by any stretch of the imagination; but that must have been of some benefit to Mr Moore. Mr Speaker, it is perhaps disappointing that, in mentioning conflicts of interest - - -

Mrs Carnell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think that Mr Whitecross should withdraw any imputation against Mr Moore.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, I do not see why I should have to withdraw it when I made it quite clear that I was not making any imputation.

Mr Moore: It is all right. You have just got it wrong; that is all.

MR WHITECROSS: I am just relying on the words here, which say:

The legislation that I tabled only a few minutes ago, the Gaming Machine (Amendment) Bill, was privately drafted. The Australian Hotels Association, knowing that the legislation would benefit their members, offered to have that professionally drafted for me. I accepted that.

That is what Mr Moore said in February this year. Mr Speaker, as I said, I am not imputing motives to him in any way, shape or form; but I am saying that, according to Mr Moore, he did receive from the Australian Hotels Association assistance in the form of drafting of the Bill. He has certainly been someone who is identified as having common interests with the Australian Hotels Association, in that they share a lot of common policy objectives. I think that, while Mr Moore has made comments in relation to other members and their potential conflicts of interests, it is disappointing that in his remarks he did not remind us again of his involvement with the Australian Hotels Association in relation to the Gaming Machine (Amendment) Bill.

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