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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (24 May) . . Page.. 1754 ..

MR BERRY: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I must say from listening to Mr Smyth's contribution to the debate that this was his idea and I am the villain in the story. Mr Speaker, it is obvious that there has been a conversion on the road to Damascus. All of a sudden, Mr Smyth is seemingly committed to a sensible idea that came out of this Assembly. I am very pleased to see that he has accepted the decision of the Assembly and is seeking to implement it. But I would hope that he would not misrepresent the contributions that have been made by me in this debate in relation to the matter.

I know that it would suit his politics to try to create the impression that there was something wrong with Labor's approach in relation to this matter. Mr Smyth fails to mention, of course, that Labor's move for an independent statutory officer in the form of an occupational health and safety commissioner was well and truly in place before the coroner reported. We recognised the need for it long before the coroner reported because of gross interference from, firstly, public servants, as reported in the coroner's inquiry, and from ministers' officers in the operations of occupational health and safety inspectors. Mr Speaker, it was extremely important that we move towards-

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Mr Berry, by rising to speak at this point, is closing the debate.

MR SPEAKER: Correct.

Mr Humphries: There are other members who are interested in speaking in this debate. Mr Berry has no right to rise at this point to close the debate while other members wish to speak in it.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, people can make a contribution more than once in this debate.

Mr Humphries: No, you cannot, not in the in-principle debate. You are closing the debate.

MR SPEAKER: You are closing the debate, Mr Berry; that is the situation.

Mr Moore: That is what you are doing. Everyone is tired and you are proceeding with this silly game.

MR BERRY: Who is proceeding with a silly game?

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, on the basis that Mr Berry is not entitled to rise at this point while other members wish to speak in the debate, he, with respect, does not have the right to-

MR BERRY: I am entitled to rise. I was called.

Mr Humphries: No, you are not entitled to rise and speak if you are closing the debate and other members wish to speak in the debate.

MR SPEAKER: You were called all right, but you are closing the debate.

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