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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (23 June) . . Page.. 810 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, on Saturday, 6 June, the Canberra Times printed a story about the release of Mr Emmanuel Viglatgis from prison in New South Wales without a valid parole order having been issued. In that article the reporter, Mr Frank Cassidy, says, in relation to the claim by the New South Wales department that a phone call led to Mr Viglatgis's release:

Mr Humphries disputes that such a phone call took place. "It's a cock and bull story," he said.

Mr Speaker, I did not describe the allegation made by New South Wales Corrective Services as a cock-and-bull story. I did describe it as untrue; but it is not in my nature to describe it as a cock-and-bull story. That kind of language is not the sort of language that I have generally used, certainly not to newspapers. Mr Speaker, my office did not make any such claim to Mr Cassidy, or anyone else, using those words. Since publication, my office has contacted the Canberra Times and asked that they publish a correction, which to date they have not done. Accordingly, I am taking the step today of explaining those remarks to the Assembly. They were not made by me or anyone in my office. I can only assume that Mr Cassidy simply made them up to suit the story.

MR KAINE (11.17): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to move a motion relating to the appointment of the Select Committee on Gambling.

Leave granted.

MR KAINE: I move:

That the resolution of the Assembly of 20 May 1998 appointing a Select Committee on Gambling be amended by:

(1) omitting from paragraph (1)(a) "by the first sitting day of 1999"; and

(2) inserting the following paragraph:

"(1)(aa) The Committee may make interim reports and its final report shall be presented to the Assembly by the first sitting day of 1999.".

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