Page 3106 - Week 10 - Thursday, 18 October 2007
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Why did the government move from that? We could have just said, “No, that’s the law. The law is the law.” But there was a compelling case put to us by the industry. I believe that the consultation process was an effective one. It was a good one; it was an honest one.
Mr Seselja: Like at the libraries.
Mr Pratt: It is not one of your strong points, John.
MR HARGREAVES: You always throw this little pearler in when you have got nowhere else to go. Yes, keep going, sunshine; when you have no argument, you can always drag up some herring.
Mr Pratt: Albert Hall, the ACT shopfront.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR HARGREAVES: I wish it was that easy, Mr Speaker. The fact is that the government listened to the industry—the chamber of commerce and industry and the AHA particularly. I spoke to individual cafe owners myself—the Griffith shops are one good example—and explored what effect it had on them. This was a small operator I spoke to; at the end of the day, it put an impost on that company of about $1,200—1,200 bucks. We are seeing Mr Smyth saying, “I’ve got a different way of calculating this from you. By definition I am right and you are not; I went to Marist Brothers.” I did too. If you are going to slag off at my alma mater, you do so at your own.
Mr Mulcahy: You obviously flunked maths.
MR HARGREAVES: Mr Mulcahy wants to abolish this particular one. We will just tack that figure on the end of the spendometer now. Is somebody up there listening? We want to tack it on the spendometer now.
Mr Pratt: I didn’t know you were a rock chopper. You learn something every day.
MR HARGREAVES: I have not got a clue what he is talking about; it must be military jargon that I was not privy to when I was in the forces.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Just come to the matter.
MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker—
Mr Pratt: After your time, mate.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Conversations across the chamber are not helpful in this debate. Mr Hargreaves, direct your comments through the chair. Members of the opposition, cease interjecting.
MR HARGREAVES: Prior to the increase happening in the first place—I mentioned the AHA and the chamber of commerce and industry. We also talked to Restaurant
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