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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (24 March) . . Page.. 807 ..

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (6.10): I would like to respond very briefly to the Chief Minister's use of correspondence obviously provided to her by her bosom buddy and travelling companion, Paul Whalan. It is interesting to see Mrs Carnell linking herself inextricably with Paul Whalan. Bitter and twisted perhaps as Mr Whalan is, it was intriguing to listen to the extent to which Mrs Carnell has taken this other defeat, this next defeat, in the list of defeats that she is suffering. One reflects back to the ACTEW defeat and the horror we had to suffer as a result of that, the horror budget that we have never seen the back of. I wonder whether the success of Mr Kaine's legislation will lead to such similar prognostications of doom and gloom in the ACT in respect of the budget. One looks forward to further chapters in Mrs Carnell's dual dummy-spit with Paul Whalan and what it means for the people of the ACT.

Mrs Carnell lost again. She took another blow. She lost another vote. What does Mrs Carnell do when she loses a vote? The big, gigantic dummy-spit. Isn't it intriguing to see Mrs Carnell joining with Paul Whalan in these dummy-spits. He is bitter and twisted that he did not win the day. Perhaps Mr Whalan's involvement in the matter had something to do with the fact that the casino did not get the case they want. I think there is something there for Mr Whalan and the Endeavour Consulting Group to dwell on - whether or not in fact Mr Whalan's involvement in this issue led to the ultimate result. We have the spectacle of Mrs Carnell's gigantic dummy-spit because she lost again. That is something that is happening more and more and more. It is becoming a habit, Mrs Carnell. I would watch it if I was you.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Community Safety and Minister Assisting the Treasurer) (6.12), in reply: Mr Speaker, I want to change the subject matter and report the sad news that Miss Sylvia Curley has passed away. This news comes as a bit of a shock to us all. We had expected her to go on for many more years. She showed every sign of it. She was, as my colleague Mr Moore tells me, only a few weeks ago still very mentally alert. She was still telling the Government in no uncertain terms what she wanted to happen and how to handle issues as diverse as the Mugga Mugga Homestead and the Canberra Hospital. I am sure we all immediately call to mind the enormous contribution that she has made to the Canberra community. She celebrated her 100th birthday last November and had a mass of thanksgiving to celebrate that occasion.

Mr Speaker, the Government is proposing that we have a condolence motion on 20 April, the next sitting of the Assembly, to mark the passing of this great life. I hope members will join on that occasion in expressing suitable words on the death of Miss Sylvia Curley.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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