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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 13 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 4207 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I was a bit upset about that because they did not mention me. I would have liked to have had a few phone calls, too, because I would like to speak to some of those people. I am a bit upset with Dave Rugendyke, too, because he has only ever mentioned Jon Stanhope in his press releases and I want my name in there, thank you very much. I do not mind being associated with this issue. We have taken a decision to support it and we have taken a decision to support other aspects of services for people who are involved with drug use and I intend to sell them and work hard to achieve them. Dave, if you are listening, and Paul, if you are listening: When you put out the next press release and you want to nail Mr Moore or Mr Stanhope, do not leave me out because I will be even more upset with you.

Mr Speaker, I have just about concluded all I have to say. All that I think needs to be said in relation to this matter is that, once it is established, it will have to be defended. It is not going to be a particularly pleasant edifice and there are going to be some sad stories associated with it. They will probably be very public ones. There will be sad stories outside of this drug injecting place as well. But it can only ever give us the information that we need to pursue a better outcome for those in trouble because of drug use if, once this decision is made, those amongst us who might oppose it at this stage at least try to understand how we are dealing with the problem and try to understand the efforts that others are putting into the rehabilitation of people who are caught in what is for many of them an inescapable problem. (Extension of time granted)

Mr Speaker, I urge members to support this Bill. I will be supporting it wholeheartedly and I will be out there arguing the case for it at every opportunity. I think that is the job in front of us from now on. I do not think that the job finishes here; it really starts here. I finish by saying to the Government that it must not rely just on this proposal. It must get busy in all of the other areas. It must get busy in rehabilitation and it must get busy in education. The Government has to be seen to be out there.

MR OSBORNE (11.08): I do not intend to add to very much to the debate tonight. I think my views are well documented. I enjoyed watching a video tonight and had the pleasure of not having to listen to any of the debate, other than the end of Mr Smyth's speech, which I found appalling. There are a couple of points I want to make.

In the last couple of weeks I have had a think about whom we should hold responsible for this legislation. It is not Mr Moore. I blame Jon Stanhope solely for this legislation. The weakness of Jon Stanhope will allow this legislation to go through, and the weakness of Brendan Smyth will allow it to go through. The thing that concerns me is that they are the potential candidates who will be fighting for the Chief Minister's job next week. I think this is Jon Stanhope's shooting gallery, and I intend to remind everybody about whose fault it is.

I will not be supporting the legislation. I will not be putting my hand up to go on that stacked committee. I know Mr Berry wants to be involved in our press releases. I think a good press release tomorrow would be one that said we want to bury Stanhope's shooting gallery. We may have to change the spelling.

The people of Canberra need to know that this legislation would have finished where it deserved to go but for the weakness of Jon Stanhope.

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