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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 2017 ..

MR SPEAKER: Read standing order 46.

MR BERRY: I have got it here. There is no issue before the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: It does not matter. I will read the entire standing order:

Having obtained leave from the Chair, -

which you have -

a Member may explain matters of a personal nature, although there is no question before the Assembly; -

that is quite true -

but such matters may not be debated.

Just make your personal explanation, sit down and we will get on with the presentation of papers.

MR BERRY: In accordance with the promise that I made - personal nature - at the 1992 election, I proceeded to make way for a hospice on the Acton Peninsula. This promise to maintain buildings on that peninsula was pretty much the same as the Liberals' in many respects, because they made promises to keep buildings there, too. That is not personal and I apologise for raising that issue. In due course, budgets were passed by this Assembly which allowed the hospice to be placed on the peninsula.

Ms Carnell: I take a point of order. Mr Berry is debating the issue, no matter how you look at it.

MR SPEAKER: Where are you getting to, Mr Berry? Would you please come to your point of order, otherwise I will sit you down.

MR BERRY: No, it is not a point of order, Mr Speaker; it is a personal explanation.

MR SPEAKER: No, your personal explanation.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I am clarifying my personal role in this for the benefit of the Assembly. Mrs Carnell claimed that I had signed - that I, personally, had signed - a lease which expired five years ago today. Of course, I was not a Minister five years ago today, so that is pretty personal.

Ms Carnell: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. For a number of days, I have put up with people saying in this place that I broke the law. Mr Speaker, I am happy to withdraw any comment that Mr Berry signed the lease on the basis that the letter was signed by somebody in his department, but the same approach has to be taken by those opposite.

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