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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 1079 ..

MR BERRY (4.10): Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, seeing that Mr Moore is so keen on referring to articles in the Canberra Times, he might refer to page 18 of the Canberra Times. It might have got Mrs Carnell's name wrong, but the sentiments are spot on. This is not a caring budget, and it has never been a caring budget. One of the things that interest me about Mr Moore's contribution to the debate is that he spent so many years sculpting his image as a person of principle; but, since he has been involved in the dash for cash, it seems as though we have seen the spawning of a fawning sycophant for the Liberals opposite.

Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker: Language such as "skulking sycophant" is entirely inappropriate.

MR BERRY: Fawning sycophant, lickspittle - it is the same thing.

Mr Humphries: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I really think we can conduct this debate without the kinds of denigrating phrases which Mr Berry is introducing. We have had the debate so far without those kinds of comments being made. Frankly, I do not think we need to have them made in this debate to contribute to resolving the question about the budget.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. Mr Berry, refrain from lowering the tenure of this chamber.

MR BERRY: Righto, Righto, Righto.

Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker: The disrespect shown to the Chair by Mr Berry's reaction then was entirely inappropriate. It was just childish.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Berry, address your remarks to the Chair.

MR BERRY: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, the fact of the matter is that this is not a caring budget. For the well off, of course, it might well be considered to be an all-right budget, because they are the ones who are going to be able to afford to pay the extra insurance. Mr Moore, that will not bother you. They are the ones who are going to have to pay the extra charges on their registration. Mr Moore, that will not bother you. They are the ones who are going to have to pay the catch-up for the previous errors of the Liberals opposite. Let us not forget that this was the Government that refused to do anything about the dental waiting list and the spectacles scheme until Labor promised to do something about it. Now, other people in the community are going to have to pay the price for the catch-up, through their registration, their insurance and many other things.

While I am on the issue of your credibility, Mr Moore, let us not forget about education. I see that you have sculpted a new image which, these days, is more flexible in relation to education. You do not mind how the money is moved around in education. It is interesting that included in the education budget is an election promise which will impact on education as time passes. I wonder where you will stand on that. We will eagerly wait and see.

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