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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2348 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The Office of the Regulator-General, which is the regulatory body in Victoria, has outlined the fact that the average time off supply, that is power failures or outages, per customer, per year in Victoria has increased from 207 minutes in 1995 to 218 minutes.

He prefaced that by saying that Victoria has a privatised electricity retail and distribution and indeed generation network. He has linked that to the increases in outages and other so-called problems arising from privatisation in that State.

Mr Speaker, the figures as quoted by Mr Corbell create a highly distorted picture of the situation with power outages in Victoria - so distorted as to constitute a grave deception of the Assembly and the people of the ACT. Mr Speaker, I quote from a table - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I think "grave deception" would have the same connotation as "misleading of this Assembly" and it ought to be withdrawn.

MR SPEAKER: I am not sure just what the "grave deception" claimed by Mr Humphries is; he has not had a chance to put it.

Mr Corbell: He has made a substantive allegation, Mr Speaker.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I would be happy to clarify my remarks, if that is of any help to the Assembly.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, certainly.

MR HUMPHRIES: I will clarify my remarks very clearly, Mr Speaker.

Mr Berry: No, I do not want you to clarify them. The imputation was clear, that Mr Corbell misled the Assembly, and the Minister should withdraw that. He knows the rules. If you want to move a motion about the matter, you move a motion.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, if that is the case - if members do not want me to outline my justification for this - that is fine.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The choice is that either Mr Humphries - - -

Mr Berry: Withdraws it or moves a motion.

MR SPEAKER: Or moves a motion.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I am not going to withdraw. And that being the case, I seek leave - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I ask you to order him to withdraw.

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