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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1185 ..

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: I did not hear that. Minister, did you say those words?

Mr Smyth: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I did say, "Here comes Sad Sack". If he finds them offensive, I withdraw the words "Sad Sack".

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.

MR BERRY: The only thing that I find offensive is that Mr Smyth should say anything about me.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! You have the call, sir.

MR BERRY: Thank you, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. First of all, I draw your attention to paragraph 4 of the statement of intent, which says that an assistance package for an Impulse Airlines development based on Canberra will be put to the ACT Legislative Assembly and the support of the Assembly sought. Rather than putting a motion of that order, the Government has chosen to move that this Assembly notes the proposal. I do not know what that means in the context of the arrangements. However, it seems to me that noting it is a long way from supporting it. That makes it quite easy for us to consider because Labor has always said that it is the job of the Executive to make these decisions and be accountable for the decisions.

For my part and for the Labor Party's part, we are absolutely in support of the move by this airline to come to the ACT, but we are concerned about the proposal to spend $10m of the Territory's money, the taxpayers' money, on this proposal and the timeframe that we have been given to consider the matter. I notice that Mr Kaine and Mr Rugendyke have been blinded by the stars and sparklers that have been attached to this issue.

Mr Rugendyke: No, we studied the information.

MR BERRY: I will come back to that in a minute. We are rather more cautious on that because we have had some experiences in relation to these matters. I would also note for the record, given that the Assembly is being asked to note this proposal, the first attempted sale of ACTEW and how much that cost us. We heard from the Government language just like yours, Mr Rugendyke, in relation to that first attempt to sell ACTEW and it cost us a squillion - - -

Mr Rugendyke: Who saved it? I saved ACTEW.

MR BERRY: Not without significant prompting. It cost us a squillion and it never happened. I heard the sort of language that you just uttered from the Government in relation to the Bruce Stadium marketing and contracting cost blowout. That has cost us millions and millions of dollars and future generations are going to be lumbered with that liability. I will note that one for the record, too.

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