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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 2 Hansard (2 March) . . Page.. 524 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: And I have again today, and I think most observers of this process would accept that that is the case. I am reminded that the Queensland Premier, Mr Beattie, has made some comments in recent days about the need radically to reorganise the energy in that State. Why, do you imagine, a big state like Queensland is concerned about the size of utilities when each of those utilities is, I think, several times larger than ACTEW? Why would he be concerned about making them bigger still and better positioned in their marketplace and should we be complacently able to adopt a struthioid approach in the ACT to these sorts of problems? I think the question bears asking, Mr Speaker, and I think Mr Berry needs in particular to ask himself why ACTEW should be - - -

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think the word "struthioid" should be withdrawn.

MR HUMPHRIES: It means ostrich-like. It describes you people to a T.

MR SPEAKER: It was used this morning. I am sorry, there is no point of order on that one.

Mr Berry: He is having a shot at me personally.

MR SPEAKER: Order, please! This is question time, not charades.

MR HUMPHRIES: Burying your head in the sand may account for the state of your hairline, Mr Berry.

Mr Moore: Mr Bury!

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Bury, indeed. Mr Speaker, I think that it is appropriate for ACTEW to enter into a business of that kind, risky though it may be in one sense, because the opportunities created for the ACT by having a local gas-fired power station are so great that the level of risk entailed is worth it.

ACTEW - Expressions of Interest

MR SPEAKER: I call Mr Hird.

MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, it has taken a while to get there, but I am finally there. You just about forgot me yesterday, but that is another story. Mr Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer, Mr Humphries, on a subject matter that is dear to this place. Is the Treasurer aware of claims by Ted Quinlan, some might say a leader in waiting - - -

Mr Berry: Something that will never trouble you, Harold.

MR HIRD: You were a leader, but you were not making much chop of it and they turfed you out.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Just ask your question, Mr Hird.

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