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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 1957 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I simply say, Mr Speaker, that this is a very dangerous game that Mr Berry is playing. Quite apart from the rules we have about these things, which he is breaching, if two of us got into that game, indeed, if all of us in this place got into that game, we would be in serious trouble. We could all do cc:mail messages. We could all be propagandising among public servants in this place. If the Labor Party wants to make it their forte, Mr Speaker, it is a very dangerous precedent, and others in this place inevitably will also start to use it in that way. The Labor Party might not care about the consequences of these things, but if we start to bombard public servants in that way I think we are setting a very dangerous precedent.

MR BERRY (7.16): One thing for sure that I knew was that the public servants were not going to be told about yesterday's decision of this Assembly by the Government, and it was in the public interest that they be told. Mr Humphries says that I have broken the rules, or something to that effect. I recall some time ago, Mr Speaker, when you sent a press release to all public servants about this Assembly allegedly bagging public servants. At the time I tried to respond to that and I was not able to get access to the same medium as you were.

Mr Speaker, this is about providing some important information. You will note that there was no rhetoric in it; it was just a straight take from the records of this place. It was very carefully put together that way so that public servants would know about it. I did not say that the Chief Minister argued against that motion. I did not say that the Osborne group supported the Government's move to try to water it down. I never said any of that. I lifted it straight as it was and sent it. I will not be using this system unless it is absolutely necessary.

Mr Moore: No; we will just stop you having access to the government link. It is easy.

MR BERRY: That is fine. If it is all right for the Speaker to be given permission by the Chief Minister's Department - - -

Ms Carnell: It is not all right. I have never used it.

MR BERRY: If it is all right for the Speaker - - -

Ms Carnell: You said it was not.

MR Humphries: You said it was not. Have you changed your mind?

MR BERRY: If it was all right at the time for the Speaker to be given access, I am just using the same rules. I am just playing by the same rules. You people refuse to give access to an opposing view.

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