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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (17 November) . . Page.. 2563 ..

MR SPEAKER: We have been through this before, Mr Berry. We do not like people who are in no position to defend themselves in this chamber being attacked.

MS CARNELL: I do not know about you, Mr Speaker, but I think it is about time members in this place stopped having a go at senior public servants.

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Methinks she doth protest too much.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Please continue, Chief Minister. I support you entirely in that.

MS CARNELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think it is atrocious, and the approach that has been taken, particularly by Mr Berry - - -

Mr Corbell: You are politicising the Public Service and then you have the gall to put up this mock outrage. It is absolutely pathetic!

MR SPEAKER: Be careful, Mr Corbell. You may not have a chance to ask your question if you keep up these interjections.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, if we are talking about politicisation of the Public Service, Mr Berry would know that very well from emails that he has sent to the whole of the Public Service. If we are looking at politicisation, there is politicisation.

Members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Keep it down, all of you.

MS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I am absolutely confident that the director of the GBE branch and the executive director of Operations in the Department of Urban Services gave very balanced approaches, both to the ABN AMRO report and to the current situation with regard to ACTION.

Mr Corbell: So, they did not present the alternative view?

MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mr Corbell.

MS CARNELL: I have every faith in their approach. They are very professional officers, Mr Speaker. I have to say that I think that this place has to start having a good look at its approach to senior public servants and to stop the approach that was taken just then by Mr Berry and by those opposite.

Mr Corbell: That sort of mock outrage is pathetic. You politicise the Public Service every day. Politicisation of the Public Service - - -

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am outraged for those officers. I am sorry about that; but I am outraged.

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