Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 1891 ..

MR SPEAKER: Relevance!

Ms Carnell: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

MR BERRY: If you want to face the music on your budget, the best way is to put it - - -

MR SPEAKER: A point of order has been taken, Mr Berry. Please sit down.

Ms Carnell: Mr Berry does have to be relevant, as he forever reminds me.

MR BERRY: You asked the question. I will give you the answer that I want to give.

MR SPEAKER: Order! I find it fascinating when the boot is on the other foot. It still fits. Relevance!

MR BERRY: The boot fits and the boot has got a lot of room in it. Mr Speaker, the Estimates Committee did not set out to change the bottom line. That is the Government's position. It has been going on with this hogwash that it is the Estimates Committee's role in life to construct the budget and have regard to the bottom line. It is the Government's job to present a budget to the community and to the Assembly, and it is the Estimates Committee's role to scrutinise the budget and to find the flaws in it. We found at least 50 flaws which were endorsed by the majority of members - - -

MR SPEAKER: It sounds like a high-rise, but go on.

MR BERRY: Indeed. The 50 recommendations included some recommendations about quite significant issues. I will go to the 50 recommendations, Mr Speaker.

Mr Moore: Mr Speaker, I raise a small point of order. It does not have to do with relevance. I am asking that the question be treated in exactly the same way as I treat questions; that is, the answer should be consistent with standing order 118(a), which provides that answers to questions shall be concise and confined to the subject matter. As members opposite will know, that is exactly how I seek to answer questions, and I think it is appropriate for Mr Berry to do so too.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, if I can - - -

Mr Moore: I raised the point of order, Mr Speaker, because Mr Berry said that he would now proceed to the 50 recommendations of the Estimates Committee, which under standing order 118(a) he is not entitled to do, because that would not be concise and it would not be confined to the subject matter of the question.

MR SPEAKER: I am sure that Mr Berry will be guided by standing orders. He is, after all, something of an expert on them.

MR BERRY: Indeed, but not as expert as you, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .