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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 860 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I wish to make it clear that I do not believe it is our job as members of this Assembly to assist ACTEW management in the day-to-day decision-making involved in running the business. However, it is our job to ensure that the people of Canberra receive a quality product from ACTEW for a fair price and that their substantial investment in ACTEW is protected.

The Chief Minister and the Treasurer have said many times that doing nothing with ACTEW is not an option. I agree. However, I do not therefore agree that any option is necessarily a better one. While there are a number of things I like about this proposal, I am not prepared to give this Government a blank cheque yet. I want to make a decision with all the information on the table. I think that is the sensible thing to do. We need to make an informed decision.

I would like to thank especially Mr Mackay for his assistance on this issue. (Extension of time granted) I suppose it is my faith in Mr Mackay that has really got me to the point that I am at now. However, the alarm bells went off well and truly today when Mr Baxter handed down his report on AGL. Although the Government claimed to have all the answers, I think it has highlighted the need to approach this with some caution. I feel that I will be better placed to vote on this after we have all the information on the table.

MR BERRY (8.33): I would like to seek leave to speak.

MR SPEAKER: You do not need leave. The proper place for this debate is after this amendment has been moved, because I then have to put the question that Mr Humphries' motion, as amended, be agreed to. That can open the whole thing up for debate.

MR BERRY: I know that. I just want to follow Mr Osborne. Mr Osborne came in late after a vote and sought leave to speak. It was given to him and I just like to pick up on some of the things he said.

MR SPEAKER: Pardon me, Mr Berry, but Mr Osborne, as it so happened, did not speak to the amendment which he should have spoken to.

MR BERRY: That is right, and then he got leave after the vote was counted.

MR SPEAKER: He did.

MR BERRY: Usually the rules are that you do not get a say, but I thought it would be even-handed. I would not mind a little say on this as well, because Mr Osborne has raised a few things that need - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! He has raised matters which can easily be debated after - - -

MR BERRY: They could have easily been debated before the vote was taken, too.

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