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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2387 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

the source was quoted accurately and the figures were accurate. The only people who have got their figures inaccurate have been members of the Government in the figures that they have circulated from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia, which are inconsistent with the figures of the Office of the Regulator-General.

Mr Smyth, in the debate earlier, stood up and continued to quote the figures from the ESAA, even though Mr Humphries had stood up and said that those figures were not the same as the Regulator-General's figures. Obviously, Mr Smyth, you were not listening to the Acting Chief Minister. They are not figures in any way relevant to this debate and there is certainly no reason why Mr Smyth should be quoting from them.

Let us look very clearly at what I said in this debate. I said in this debate that the rate of blackouts, power outages and power failures has increased under private ownership. I quoted from some legitimate figures to justify that. I did not quote from the document that Mr Humphries is suggesting I quoted from. If I had quoted from that document, he would be justified in moving this censure, but I did not quote from that document. Indeed, I have tabled openly and fully the document that I did quote from. Let us go on and see what else I said in the debate so that we can get the full context of what I was saying about power outages, blackouts and power failures. Not only did I quote accurately and completely from the document that I have tabled in this place for all to see, but also I went on to highlight other instances of failures in terms of power outages, power failures and blackouts. These figures also are not disputed. In Melbourne the average of blackouts or power failures - - -

Mr Moore: It is the same source. Why would you believe those figures?

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The Minister will come to order. Mr Corbell has the call.

MR CORBELL: The rate of power failures in Melbourne increased for two of the three power suppliers. The rate is higher - - -

Mr Moore: Are you sure about that?

Mr Humphries: Is this Peter Loney again?

Mr Hargreaves: I take a point of order. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, the two members opposite continually interject and make it particularly difficult for those people on whom the vote is going to count to make up their mind on whether the people across the chamber are talking a whole stack of rubbish or whether this side is doing so. I would urge you to use your authority and the booming voice for which you are well renowned to keep these monkeys quiet.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Debate interrupted.

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