Page 4318 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 October 1991
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PERSONAL EXPLANATION
MR HUMPHRIES: I have a short statement - - -
MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, are you wishing to adjourn?
Mr Berry: I was going to move that the house adjourn.
MR SPEAKER: I have already been notified by Mr Humphries that he wishes to speak.
MR HUMPHRIES: I wish to make a short statement under standing order 46, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Do you claim to have been misrepresented?
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, earlier today, in question time, reference was made by Mr Berry to the report that was referred to yesterday in my statement to the Assembly. In particular, Mr Berry referred to the report by Mr Peter Macdonald to the ACT Ambulance Service and to the Government concerning the conduct of a particular officer in the incident that was raised. Mr Berry made the assertion that I had attacked that officer or in some way disparaged the report that that officer had prepared, and he implied that I had done so for political reasons, namely, that this officer was involved in the Save Our Schools campaign as it related to Higgins Primary School.
Mr Berry: Wrong officer, Gary. You got it wrong.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, that is what I interpreted Mr Berry as saying.
Mr Kaine: That is the substance of what he said.
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, indeed. Mr Speaker, certainly there was some allegation that I had made comments or allegations against an officer on the basis of his participation in a campaign. I was not aware - and I am not aware at the moment - of any such connection between any particular ambulance officer and any school campaign. I will take Mr Berry's word for that, probably dubiously.
I also want to make it clear, Mr Speaker, that I have no quibbles with, and no objections to, the report that was handed down by Mr Peter Macdonald. It was a good report. I stand by it. I think it ought to have been acted upon by the Government. Any assertion that I was attacking Mr Macdonald or his report is completely without foundation.
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