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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 387 ..

Mr Berry (continuing):

the subject matter of the question". I do not mind a bit of a meander, but I think that he is taking it a bit too far.

MR SPEAKER: I am sure that the minister is coming to a reply.

Members interjecting-

MR SPEAKER: Order! He will not be helped by constant interjections from either side of the chamber.

MR HUMPHRIES: The question to me referred quite specifically to the Labor Party on the weekend making a commitment to increase spending on multicultural broadcasting in Canberra if it wins government in October. I would contrast the position of the Labor Party with that of the government. We have clearly given support for Canberra's multicultural broadcasting services in a quite demonstrable way.

Quite apart from the establishment of multicultural grants programs in 1998, the first that the ACT had seen, we have promised in the draft budget to increase them from $50,000 to $100,000. Also, there has been support in a $15,000 grant in 1999 to help establish a training studio for Canberra multicultural services. There is also further assistance of $15,000 in the current year's multicultural grants program. It is to assist in the cost of broadcasting live during the 2001 multicultural festival, a very generous level of support I would modestly say on behalf of the government.

What is it about that which is inadequate and requires further support, might I ask? If that is the case, how much further support does it require? Mr Stanhope needs to show leadership on this occasion. He needs to say whether Mr Rebikoff's promises were those of the Labor Party or-

Mr Stanhope: They weren't.

MR HUMPHRIES: In that case, if they were not, he needs to repudiate publicly the commitment made, because it was made in front of witnesses, it was made clearly and it has been captured on tape, Mr Speaker. The mark of a leader is to hold his team in check if they are making the wrong announcements. If Mr Stanhope has integrity, he will repudiate what that candidate said publicly.

Mr Stanhope: Let me reiterate that under no circumstances would I-

MR SPEAKER: Order! If you wish to make a personal explanation, you can leave it until the end of question time.

Mr Stanhope: Right.

MR HUMPHRIES: Incidentally, it might also be appropriate for you to retract some of the things that you said about me this morning on the radio when you virtually called me a liar. On the basis of what you heard Mr Rebikoff say, you might have cause to reconsider that statement.

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