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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 2710 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

on how we arrived at this figure on the crossbench. I did some work with Mr Moore around election time. We added up the salary allocation for the Leader of the Opposition and the other five members of the Labor Party, divided it by six and came out with a figure of about $100,000. Mr Deputy Speaker, given that it is widely accepted that the crossbench members were the real Opposition in the last Assembly, we thought it only fair that we should receive a similar remuneration for staff to that of the Labor Party. That is why we came up with that figure.

Mr Deputy Speaker, as I said, I am quite happy to give up some of my staffing allocation, as I think other members should do, to accommodate Mr Kaine's move to the crossbench. I would encourage other members to consider that. The money that we have is already set aside. I think it is fair that we all put some money in to assist Mr Kaine. As I have said, Mr Kaine does have the numbers on this. I think it is regrettable. But I do not think that it forces Ms Carnell to throw any more money into the Assembly budget. So it appears that we are all going to have to make concessions. I am prepared to do that, to bring Mr Kaine into line with us.

When I spoke to the Labor Party and said that I was going to move my amendment which restricted the money to go to Mr Kaine to money coming from within our own salary allocation - I think it would have been about $1,500 each - Mr Berry said, "Oh, I am not supporting that. I want nothing to do with that - no way". It is just appalling.

Mr Hargreaves: But be fair, please, Paul.

MR OSBORNE: I would like to finish. Mr Hargreaves said that he was quite happy to do it; but I am talking about Mr Berry. Mr Deputy Speaker, I think that is the fairest way to go, rather than going through this exercise of moving disallowance and really attempting to force the Government. I will not force the Government to spend money. I have been consistent in that in the four years that I have been in here.

I would just like to finish on one point, Mr Deputy Speaker. What I do not appreciate in this Assembly is being abused by members' staff, which happened to me within the last half an hour in relation to this issue. I do not appreciate it, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I think it was completely uncalled for. However, it appears that Mr Kaine does have the numbers. I think it is regrettable that we have had to take this action. I do think it is unfair to Mr Kaine that the Chief Minister has not made more funding available; but I will not support forcing her to do it. I will accept giving up some more money from my staffing allocation.

As I said, I thought I had achieved a fair compromise in suggesting that we all give up about $1,500 to bring Mr Kaine into line with the six Labor Party members and the other members of the crossbench. But, Mr Deputy Speaker, it has been very disappointing to have been abused by members' staff and then, as I said, to have seen the hypocrisy of Mr Berry, who, when I offered him a solution where we all gave up a little bit, said, "No, I am not doing that. I want nothing to do with it". But, as I said, Mr Deputy Speaker, it appears that Mr Kaine has the numbers. I accept that. I am quite happy to give up a little bit of money myself to go towards Mr Kaine's staff.

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