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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5037 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I cannot finish my last speech in this Assembly without acknowledging the other members who collectively are Labor's political opponents in this place, all 11 of them. It is a political reality that one must try to work with people who ultimately wish to throw you out of office. That is the reality of this place. The conflict that occurs in this place may upset the sensibilities of some people, but the fact is that we are all jostling for a limited number of seats and are all vying to increase our membership in this place. I can assure my opponents that I will be working towards decreasing the number of my political opponents in the next Assembly. Whilst I cannot wish you a successful campaign over the next few months, I do wish you a safe one.

Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, this parliament has always been a tough parliament, but it is not one where you should run away from the realities. The reality is that there will soon be a choice for the community of the ACT, a choice of a Liberal government or a Labor government. We will be working very hard to make sure that their choice is a Labor government and that they choose people who would ensure that there will be a Labor government.

Mrs Carnell: You are supposed to have a sense of humour.

MR BERRY: Somebody interjected that I was supposed to have a sense of humour. I have a sense of humour but I cannot laugh about the damage that has been done to the ACT, and neither should any of you. Anybody who makes a joke about this, in my view, is quite sick. The fact of the matter is that this Assembly has been one that many in the ACT will not forget. As I said, it has not been an enjoyable one for me because I have seen the damage done to the fabric of the ACT by two Liberal governments, and one in particular that never won in its own right. They did not have a right to do to this Territory what they did. It is my intention that we do our very best to ensure that it never happens again.

Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, again I say to all of my colleagues within the Labor caucus, my personal colleagues in my own party and to the rest of you who oppose us that I wish you all a very safe campaign. I cannot in good faith wish you a successful one. What I would say to you is that it is much better to drive safely. Just drive safely.

MR MOORE (10.35): Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to speak for as long as it takes to complete my prepared speech.

Leave granted.

MR MOORE: I am reading this speech for two reasons. The first is that Gary Humphries is unable to deliver his usual outrageous Christmas message in the adjournment debate, and I agreed to do a joint effort with him.

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