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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 817 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

We in the Labor Party do not operate like that; we have to be convinced with issues of substance, not just good ideas.

Are we arguing hard enough now? There is more to come. We are also able to provide some documents which have been tabled in this place. One is from Professor Alan Hodgson, Head of the School of Accounting, Banking and Finance. He is not able to make an assessment in relation to the commercial viability of this. Have you taken that into account in coming to your decision? So you think a professor who cannot make an assessment of this means nothing in the scheme of things? How about that! I wish you had extended your research a little further.

We will then go to the Australia Institute. The Australia Institute made some - - -

Mr Rugendyke: The Australia Institute, beauty.

MR BERRY: You were pretty happy about them before. They ask a range of questions which I do not really need to go through, but, if you had taken the time to read that, you might have found yourself a few different answers - if you ever wanted any; if you had not been convinced to latch yourself onto this in the first place.

I will read a letter from the Canberra Times. I do not know whether you have taken this into account insofar as people might be concerned about the future of ACTEW or the joint venture's clients. The letter states:

Living in Canberra for the last 14 years, we have seen some good times and some not so good. Being self-employed and bringing up a family of five children on a single income, and trying to stay on top of a mortgage, I found it was never going to be plain sailing.

That is pretty much the story of a lot of people in the ACT. It continues:

There have been numerous occasions when the money to pay routine bills just hasn't been there. In the past, dealings with Actew on the issue of late payments of our account, we have always found Actew to be understanding and tolerant of our position. Our payment history indicates that the bills always get paid, even if somewhat late on occasions.

AGL offers no such understanding or leeway when it comes to such issues. When their computer says you are to be cut off, that's the end of it, regardless of your position.

I wonder how many other people have shared this experience, and are equally nervous about the impending joint venture between ACTEW and AGL.

Did you take that into consideration, Mr Rugendyke?

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