Page 575 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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I submit to you that if you had done your homework properly in the first place you would never have gone into the VITAB deal. Having done so, you should have come clean and said that it was wrong and you should have backed out of it. But you have fallen for the trap of trying to defend your initial decision - and it was your decision. By your own admission, it was your decision. You can try now to lay the blame on your public servants and the people at ACTTAB and the like, but you did acknowledge that it was your decision. Having made that decision and having stood by that decision through hell and high water, which is what you have done, you have laid yourself open to this motion, Minister, and you really have to live with the consequences, I am afraid.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (5.03): Madam Speaker, I understand that Mr Cornwell is going to speak. I am perfectly happy to hear him before I defend myself.
Mr Cornwell: I am quite happy to hear you, Minister.
MR BERRY: I just want to have the right to defend myself. If you want to speak - - -
Mr De Domenico: Off you go. Defend yourself. We are waiting.
MR BERRY: If you have more things to say, I would like to hear them. I am the one who is being attacked here.
Mrs Carnell: You can speak again.
Mr Moore: Minister, you heard Mrs Carnell's interjection. You can speak again.
MADAM SPEAKER: Could we have some order. Mr Berry has the floor.
MR BERRY: Madam Speaker, I think the first thing I would like to do is to demonstrate the level of inquiry which Mr Kaine referred to which was alleged to have been conducted by the Liberals. This shows the tone of the whole affair. I go to a letter from Mrs Carnell to the chairman of VITAB Ltd - listen to the date - on 29 March. That was after all the dirt had been thrown. All the mud was hanging off everybody. The letter reads:
I am writing to ask if you could furnish the ACT Opposition with a list of all the Directors, Board Members and shareholders of your companies, VITAB Limited (registered in Vanuatu), Gaming Management International Pty Ltd and Kolcorp Pty Ltd (both incorporated in Australia).
It would also be appreciated if you could shed some light as to whether there is any relationship between VITAB Limited and two other companies which are incorporated in the Republic of Vanuatu. These companies are Oak Limited and the Pacific International Trust Company.
Any information -
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