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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 4787 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (5.59), in reply: I have heard some very bizarre comments and bizarre arguments put today. One of the most bizarre was that the Chief Minister's accident is a matter of public importance because the Chief Minister was driving away from a government function. That the origin of your journey has any bearing at all on the question of personal conduct is an argument that I think is bizarre in the extreme. Let me also place on the public record once again, for those who had any illusions about this matter, that there is no requirement in the law of the ACT or of New South Wales that a person should remain at the scene of an accident when that person is involved in an accident in which no person is injured. It is perfectly clear, and the muckraking which has gone on from those opposite on this matter is nothing more or less than that.

Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, this is the second time in this place that the conduct of a member with respect to drinking and driving has been raised. The first, of course, was a matter relating to a certain Minister in a former government who, unfortunately, appeared before a court and had his licence suspended. That was much raked over by those opposite when they were in opposition. This is the second such occasion where this has been raised. I want to bring to the attention of members that this is, in fact, not the second but the third occasion on which a member of this place has been apprehended by police for drinking and driving. Members opposite are well aware and, indeed, members on this side of the chamber were also, at the time, well aware that a certain member of the then Labor Government was apprehended by police one night for drinking and driving.

Mr Wood: It is news to me.

MR HUMPHRIES: I will give you some information about it afterwards, Mr Wood. You would be very happy to hear about it. That member faced the consequences of that member's action. Members on this side of the chamber were well aware that it had taken place, respected that member's privacy and did not raise that matter in this place or publicly, anywhere.

Mr Moore: And continue not to do so.

MR HUMPHRIES: And continue not to do so. Contrast the probity and restraint exercised by this party on this side of the chamber with the opportunistic approach taken by the Labor Opposition and see what a craven and unprincipled bunch of people it is that purports to be the alternative government of this place. I am sure that they were aware of the circumstances. If they were not aware, they are aware now, courtesy of Mr Moore.

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