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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 1992 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

forward these propositions and so on?". What will members be saying about that at that time? They will be saying, "No, no, no, the Auditor-General is a designated umpire here". I suspect, Mr Speaker, that it is a case of whatever argument suits their case best on the occasion, they will run it.

The process of getting Professor Nicholls as the agreed person who would consider and try to settle this longstanding, very intractable problem about betterment was a long and difficult process. As Minister for Planning at the time, I went to all the members of the Assembly with an interest in the matter and asked, "What about Professor Nicholls? Is he agreeable to you?". Now we find that apparently he is not. After hearing what Mr Wood, Mr Moore and Mr Hargreaves have said, I have very little confidence that people are going to adopt the position that his argument should be taken at face value. Mr Wood said that the report was rubbish, or words to that effect. He said he thinks the report is nonsense.

Mr Corbell: He did not say that.

Mr Hargreaves: He did not say that at all.

Mr Moore: He did not take Stein as gospel.

Mr Corbell: When do you ever accept a report in its entirety?

Mr Moore: You never have, Gary. Come on.

Mr Corbell: Never. Never, ever.

MR HUMPHRIES: Well, Mr Speaker - - -

Mr Wood: I said it was wrong. I said the professor was wrong.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR HUMPHRIES: Okay. I take back the word "rubbish" and say "wrong". It amounts to much the same thing.

Mr Wood: And he was wrong.

MR HUMPHRIES: Okay. Fine. You are saying we should have an inquiry into this matter to assess whether it was not wrong, but you have already made up your mind on the subject. I am just saying I think it is a bit unfortunate, Mr Speaker. Once again we will have to go through a further elongated process. I think it would be better to make a decision on this matter rather than defer it, but, if members want to put the matter over, that is their prerogative. They use that prerogative quite often in this place and we have to wear that.

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