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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 11 Hansard (20 October) . . Page.. 3359 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: They are not criminal offences, as I understand it, but they are, nonetheless, matters that carry financial penalties and those penalties are $10,000. There are no penalties provided in the Financial Management Act. Those opposite, as I recall, argued very strongly that we need to look at the Financial Management Act and change it to put in financial penalties. Mr Quinlan took a personal explanation yesterday based on the argument that there had not been any criticism on their side of the chamber, at least by him and Mr Stanhope, of the Financial Management Act.

Mr Quinlan: You misquoted. Based on the fact that you misled this place on what I said.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I ask that Mr Quinlan withdraw.

Mr Berry: Withdraw what?

Mr Moore: That he misled the house.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Quinlan, if you said that, would you withdraw it please.

Mr Quinlan: Mr Speaker, if what I said is unparliamentary, then I withdraw it. I made a personal explanation yesterday based on Mr Humphries putting words in my mouth last Thursday, purely that.

MR HUMPHRIES: I take it that is a withdrawal, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: He has withdrawn.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the fact remains that you are asking us to do today, what you censured us for in June, with respect to the Financial Management Act.

Mr Berry: No.

MR HUMPHRIES: Now, Mr Berry says no. What are the differences here?

Mr Berry: Well, I'll tell you. You asked the question, I'll answer it.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I am speaking.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, sit down, you will get a chance to answer later.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, one difference is that the Workplace Relations Act carries financial penalties, while the Financial Management Act does not. As I recall, members opposite were critical of the fact that the Government had passed legislation without there being financial penalties in there. That was a criticism of the Financial Management Act, Mr Speaker.

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