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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (24 November) . . Page.. 2772 ..

Mr Berry: I did not say it in this house. Recant, Gary.

MR HUMPHRIES: You said it in the Canberra Times this morning, Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: Said what?

MR HUMPHRIES: You talked about public servants being unable to answer questions because the Government was blocking them from doing so. Here is the quote. The chair at the time, I think, was Ms Szuty:

THE CHAIR: I think the Minister has indicated that he will consider it. Perhaps it would be pertinent to ask him what sort of time frame, Minister, a matter of weeks or months?

MR BERRY: Again, it is an issue that is up for consideration and may involve the cabinet process and I am not in a position to tell you a time frame. That is the difficulty.

MR HUMPHRIES: Could I ask you when the legal advice was obtained?

MR BERRY: No. You can but you will not get an answer.

MR HUMPHRIES: Is there any reason why I cannot get an answer?

MR BERRY: Because it is advice in confidence as things are.

We have heard that tune recently, have we not? That was not much of an argument when we used it, was it? The quote continues:

MR HUMPHRIES: I am not asking to see the advice, I just want to know when the advice was obtained.

MR BERRY: I do not know right now.

MR HUMPHRIES: Does Dr Scott know?

For the information of members, Dr Scott was sitting beside Mr Berry at the time these questions were being asked. The quote continues:

MR BERRY: Well, I - - -

MR HUMPHRIES: Could I ask Dr Scott?

MR BERRY: No, you can ask me.

MR HUMPHRIES: Well, can you ask Dr Scott?

MR BERRY: I do not know at this point.

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