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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (5 March) . . Page.. 526 ..

MR SMYTH: You have to ask who the major forces on the fire ground on 18 January were. Who were the people at the front defending the people of the ACT? They were members of the volunteer brigades association, members of the UFU and residents defending their own homes. Two groups now say that they are not sure that they will be heard fairly and openly.

MR SPEAKER: Order! I think we should have some silence while Mr Smyth concludes the debate. Mr Smyth has the floor.

Mr Wood: The place is like a morgue as it is.

MR SPEAKER: If people want to have a conversation-it is aggravating some people in the chamber-it would be better if they held it outside. Mr Smyth has the floor.

MR SMYTH: I think it appropriate that we close the debate on this motion, which will unfortunately go down, with the words of a volunteer: "I will definitely be making a submission, but how much depth I go into will be another matter."

Question put:

That Mr Smyth's motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted-

            Ayes 8                        Noes 9

Mrs Burke	Mr Smyth	Mr Berry	Ms MacDonald
Mr Cornwell	Mr Stefaniak	Mr Corbell	Mr Quinlan
Ms Dundas	Ms Tucker	Mrs Cross	Mr Stanhope
Mrs Dunne		Ms Gallagher	Mr Wood
Mr Pratt		Mr Hargreaves

Question so resolved in the negative.

Sitting suspended from 12.25 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Bushfires

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, the United Firefighters Union, through its solicitor, has been told that the McLeod inquiry will have no public sessions where evidence is taken, and that it will have private briefing sessions with the executive directors of relevant organisations. That means that, while some are having briefing sessions, others will not have the opportunity to make public submissions at a public hearing. Do you accept that, as a result of your hidebound attitude, the McLeod review is not an inquiry; it is not independent; and it is most certainly not public?

Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I think the Leader of the Opposition is

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