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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 11 Hansard (19 October) . . Page.. 3282 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

had been brought to his attention and bayed continually about the retrospective nature of what Labor was doing, which, of course, was aimed at fixing up the mess that he had created.

One of the things that emerged from that process, as I recall it, was a legislative program which included, mysteriously, the Magistrates Court Amendment Bill which we have before us now. The Magistrates Court Amendment Bill goes on to deal with a range of pieces of legislation which have been set out by the Minister. That is a good thing and I think that it is a positive outcome for something which initially was attacked by the Labor Party.

There is no doubt that this has been an embarrassing moment for the Attorney-General. Many of his peers were highly critical of the Attorney's inaction on this matter. The Attorney said that the reason that the Labor Party was doing this was that we had our sights on somebody high up the ladder. I think he even suggested at the time that it might have been the Chief Minister. By his own words, he was saying that he was trying to prevent the Chief Minister and others from being exposed to the elements of the occupational health and safety legislation which would have applied.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, that is an offensive suggestion.

MR BERRY: What? No, it was Mr Humphries' suggestion. I did not make it in the first place. He said - - -

Mr Humphries: I made no such suggestion, Mr Speaker. I have not indicated anything at all affecting the Chief Minister in respect of that. I did not indicate what Mr Berry has just risen to say that I said and it is offensive.

MR BERRY: Okay. I will not withdraw it, Mr Speaker, because it is on the public record and I will dig it out later, if you would like.

Mr Humphries: It is not on the public record at all.

MR BERRY: Yes, it is, mate.

Mr Humphries: It is not.

MR BERRY: The ABC?

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, it is not on the public record and I ask Mr Berry to withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Yes. Please withdraw it, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Withdraw what and why?

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