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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2539 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

around Canberra during this busy period will, I think, provide the community with a sense of security. It will be a very visible and very high profile policing activity during that period.

I might comment in relation to the debate that will take place later today on the Olympic Events Security Bill that it follows, of course, that the more we are able to share the task of providing policing-type duties, including bag searches and other security matters among trained staff at the Olympic venues like Bruce, the more we will relieve the need to have police at Bruce as opposed to being out in the streets of Canberra. Mr Speaker, I hope that is a matter that members will take into account in the debate later on tonight.

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. The subject, of course, is policing services in Canberra. If these officers are to be redeployed, can the minister say why it was that in his vitriolic attack on the Leader of the Opposition and me earlier on he chose in fact to be vicious about a member of the public who, on behalf of eight other employees of the Woden area, drew attention to the matter, instead of merely telling the people of the ACT what had changed as a result of that article?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I am not sure what the relationship is to the earlier question, frankly. But I think when you get a mate to do a story for you, to tell the public what terrible things the government is doing to the community, it does behove you to put in there somewhere the proviso "by the way, Mr X happens to be a close friend and my former campaign manager".

Mr Hargreaves: Say it outside the chamber.

MR HUMPHRIES: That is a matter of disclosure, Mr Hargreaves-disclosure.

Mr Hargreaves: Say it outside. You will not say it outside, will you?

MR HUMPHRIES: Then it would be entirely appropriate. Perhaps your friend, Mr Mallett, is quite genuinely concerned about crime in the ACT.

Mr Hargreaves: And he is. Why attack him here?

MR HUMPHRIES: Perhaps he is quite genuinely concerned about that. It would be helpful if you had disclosed to the Southside Chronicle your interest in this matter and Mr Mallett's interest in the matter at the same time.

Mr Hargreaves: You would not say it outside here, though, would you?

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes I would.

Mr Hargreaves: No, you would not. If you would, do it.

MR HUMPHRIES: I might just do that.

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