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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 1 Hansard (30 April) . . Page.. 236 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I have never said that the future of ACTEW is up to the board. It is not. The future of ACTEW is up to the shareholders. What I said yesterday in this place is that we are going down the path of a scoping study that will be tabled in this place and debated in this place, so everyone will be able to have their say. I have also said that the scoping study will allow members of the community to have an input to that scoping study. So, Mr Speaker, everyone will have a say; and I think that is absolutely essential.

Mr Berry: That is not an answer to the question, Mr Speaker, if I may persist - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Berry: It is on a point of order, Mr Speaker. Again I refer to the need to remind members, especially Ministers, to confine themselves to the subject matter of a question. The question simply was about asking the board to report on the activities and outcomes of its efforts to maintain and improve its customer base.

MR SPEAKER: Are you asking the question or is Mr Corbell?

Mr Berry: I wish the Chief Minister would answer the question.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, do you have a supplementary question?

MR CORBELL: Yes, I do, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry's comments are out of order.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I am glad that the Chief Minister has finally recognised that she has some responsibility in this matter and is not leaving it to the board. I am pleased also that the Chief Minister is willing to say that everyone is going to have a say. My supplementary question, Mr Speaker, is: Will the Government support proposals to allow the Assembly to vote to approve or disapprove any decisions on privatisation of the corporation before they are made?

Mr Humphries: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.

MR CORBELL: Further, Mr Speaker - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! A point of order has been taken.

MR CORBELL: I am still asking my question, Mr Speaker. Further, Mr Speaker, will the Chief Minister table the document she was quoting from in her earlier answer?

Mr Humphries: I rise on two points, Mr Speaker. First of all, I rise on the standing order about announcing government policy before it has been formulated or anticipating business on the Assembly agenda. Both those things are out of order under the standing orders. Secondly, Mr Speaker, there is a convention in this place that if members are quoting from documents, particularly Ministers during question time, they should not

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