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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (5 May) . . Page.. 1416 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I have to say that in my Bill the sum of $5,000 appears and in my budget speech I said $10,000. I meant what I said. For some reason, $5,000 slipped through. That is a mistake I am prepared to acknowledge and I have set it at $10,000. The industry approached me in relation to this and they said $5,000 is a bit low and they would prefer $10,000, so I have agreed to accept $10,000. The industry have not approached me on the basis of $20,000, so I cannot argue for $20,000 on their behalf because they have not put it to me. I am prepared to accept what they put to me, $10,000, and I trust that if at some time in the future the industry wants to change it for a variety of reasons we would be perfectly happy to do that. I cannot base my judgment on anything else but what the industry talked to me about, and they seem fairly relaxed about $10,000.

In relation to this legislation as a whole, once it has been running for 12 months or so I cannot see any reason why we should not be asked to look at a few things in relation to it. I would not rule out changes in any respects if that is what the industry and the people involved in it ask for. Whether it is $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or whatever does not affect me philosophically. I say again that that was the figure that was seized upon by those who came to see me and that was the figure I accepted. I would argue, Minister, given that the industry want that sort of a figure, that we should leave it alone. If at some time in the future the industry comes forward with a calculated argument to reduce it or to increase it, I would be happy to consider it.

Question put:

The Assembly voted -

AYES, 7   	NOES, 8

Mr Cornwell  	Mr Berry
Mr Hird  	Mr Corbell
Mr Humphries 	Mr Hargreaves
Mr Moore  	Mr Kaine
Mr Rugendyke  	Mr Osborne
Mr Smyth  	Mr Stanhope
Mr Stefaniak  	Ms Tucker
		Mr Wood

Amendment negatived.

MR BERRY (6.05): I move:

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 15, as amended, agreed to.

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