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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (5 December) . . Page.. 3677 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

that today, quoting his staffer, Ms Sue Robinson. I normally do not name people in the Assembly, but in this case I have because supposedly the comment -

Mr Stanhope: There is nothing like a bit of democracy.

Mr Berry: She has been named by bigger grubs than you, Michael; I don't think it would worry her.

MR MOORE: Mr Deputy Speaker, will you control the house? Supposedly I had made a comment at a cocktail party on some date in 1994 - I presume that Ms Robinson had written down the comment because I doubt that she could remember exactly what happened on that date in 1994 - to the effect that my future -

Mr Berry: I remember. I remember.

MR MOORE: Mr Deputy Speaker, I have to say to you that this is a matter that was raised in the debate and I am responding to the debate. Having started studies on a masters degree with the thought that I might go to a PhD - in fact, I determined not to - and those studies might be my future, I became interested, as you know, Mr Deputy Speaker, in health in this Assembly.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Moore, is this relevant to the debate?

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Deputy Speaker.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your PhD?

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Deputy Speaker, because this matter was raised by Mr Berry and I am responding to it in the debate in an entirely appropriate way. I have to say that in some way it could be construed as dirt to say that I lobbied for the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health because I happened to be doing a degree there, as if there was a conflict of interest in that way. I can see Ms Robinson over there nodding her head as if there is some conflict of interest there. What absolute crap, Mr Deputy Speaker. This is typical Wayne Berry slimeball stuff. He is feeling vulnerable because he knows about his own conflict of interest, so he tries to bring out what he perceives as dirt. Indeed, my studies were part of my future and I presume will still be part of my future because I intend to remain involved in health and health issues for a long time to come, Wayne Berry.

I have to say that the issue as far as I am concerned is that that had no effect whatsoever on me personally. In fact, my masters degree was awarded, as Mr Wood would know, after an external assessment. It had no result whatsoever for me. Mr Berry does not seem to understand the difference between lobbying for somebody where there is no result for you personally in any way at all and what happens in this debate where there is a very personal, improper self - interest for the Labor Party, which is what they are nervous about.

What has happened in this case is that over the years since 1994 there have been millions of dollars of benefit to you personally, Mr Berry, and each and every one of your members which have assisted you to get elected. We have here amendments that water

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