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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (6 May) . . Page.. 1558 ..

MR BERRY: Indeed. Mr Speaker, I am happy to do that. Mr Speaker, I also want to draw attention to a press release from the Education Union in which Mr Haggar "highlighted teachers' and parents' concern that Kate Carnell in her election promises for March 1998 committed herself to no cuts to school staff" - a quite unequivocal, honourable promise, it would seem, at the time of an election. Minister Moore, as an Independent, made it clear as late as 24 February 1999, "If a government cuts education funding to schools, then they will have a no-confidence motion". That was a very clear statement. Of course, we find that there have been staff cuts at our colleges. It is very important to remember that because Mr Moore is the one who railed against Labor when the formula was about to be altered in a particular budget and altered the budget to ensure that the formula could not be altered in a way which may have affected schools and colleges, but here we have a budget which is described by the Education Union along the following lines:

But there are cuts to schools, staffing cuts to schools. That means education cuts to schools. Mr Moore, I am prepared to sit down and let you move the motion now, if you want to elbow me aside. No, of course you will not, because you are a gold-digger. You are not interested in your election promises. You are only interested in yourself. Those were strong commitments to the community and they expected better.

Mr Moore: I rise to a point of order, Mr Speaker. He is really pushing his luck about gold-diggers, election promises, lying and all those sorts of things, Mr Speaker. He is really pushing the level there. Imputation, Wayne.

MR SPEAKER: Please, Mr Berry. There is an imputation.

MR BERRY: I think gold-digger is pretty fair.

MR SPEAKER: No, I am afraid it is not. If it were addressed to a female member of this Assembly, she would be rightly offended, and I see no reason why we should be sexist about this.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I will withdraw that.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you. The member's time has expired. Do you want an extension?

MR BERRY: Indeed, I would love one. I am sure that you will let me. (Extension of time granted) Mr Speaker, I will conclude quickly. Mr Moore has cheated on the electorate. The electorate at large is entitled to feel that way. Mr Speaker, I also would like to refer - - -

Mr Moore: There is a reason, Wayne, why you lost so many votes for Labor.

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