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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (2 February) . . Page.. 21 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

While Mrs Carnell was talking about sipping from the chalice of optimism, the image came to mind of an Indiana Jones movie where chalices were set out and it was the rich chalice that the evil characters sipped from, followed by the comment: "You have not chosen wisely". Although the action was immediate there, I have to say to members as they look at the chalices and the choices here that I hope that in the end, although I doubt it, they will choose wisely.

Another matter that concerns me greatly today, having listened to Mr Hird's speech and having spoken to Mr Hird about this matter prior to this morning, is the committee system. No member stands easily in this Assembly and says, "I have been disenfranchised". Nobody does that lightly. You know this to be true, Mr Kaine, in particular; you know this to be true, Mr Rugendyke; and you know this to be true, Ms Tucker. No member stands easily in this Assembly and says, "I have been disenfranchised. I did not get a fair go". The debate started this morning with Mr Quinlan raising the issue about whether Mr Wearing - and he named him - had assisted Mr Hird.

Mr Quinlan: I did nothing of the kind.

MR MOORE: You did, actually.

Mr Quinlan: I did not.

MR MOORE: You did. You can check the Hansard to find out. Why should that be a problem? It would be a problem if Mr Wearing then went on to discuss the issue with Ministers or members of the Government, but Mr Hird is sometimes loaned stuff by the Chief Minister. This happens regularly. Mr Quinlan went on to say to Mr Hird, "Was this written in your own hand?".

Mr Quinlan: Be careful.

MR MOORE: You will be able to check the Hansard. Mr Quinlan went on to thank his own members of staff for their help, quite rightly so. I agree that it is not a problem for Mr Hird to have some assistance along those lines, just as it is not a problem for Mr Quinlan to have assistance from personal members of staff who assisted him in this area. Indeed, for the many committee reports that I have done, I have had similar assistance from my staff as a normal part of their duties. The question then is: Why bring that up? Why start the process with an accusation? It was probably because Mr Quinlan knew that there would be some concerns from Mr Hird about what happened.

Mr Hird read from a prepared speech. He may have left out a sentence when he was delivering the speech, but I think that it is important that it be put in. I was listening and watching very carefully. The speech reads:

When we reconvened the Committee refused to consider my amendments paragraph by paragraph as required under Standing Order 248.

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