Page 949 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, it is true that I knew of Mr Berry's intention today to present a motion about Mr Lamont being discharged from the committees and Mr Berry being appointed to those committees. That is true. The misunderstanding is that the question of who was to be the chair was not discussed between Mr Berry and me, although I had discussed the issue with Ms Szuty and we both agreed that we were very happy for Mr Berry to be chair of the committee.
The misunderstanding is about what is in this motion. My understanding from Mr Berry of what was to be in the motion today - he did not give us a copy - was just a changeover of the members. I also understood that the committee would then, by general agreement, elect Mr Berry as chair of the committee. The amendment that I have put up is totally consistent with the discussion that I had with Mr Berry. That is why, Madam Speaker, I felt it necessary to correct any misunderstanding that may have arisen from Mr Berry's speech.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation under standing order 46.
MADAM SPEAKER: You may proceed, Mr Humphries.
MR HUMPHRIES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to relate the approximate terms of a conversation I had with Mr Berry yesterday by telephone.
Mr Berry: Your version of it. Today.
Mrs Grassby: It was today.
MR HUMPHRIES: No, it was yesterday. It was not today. Do you recall?
Mr Berry: What about lunchtime? Do you remember the sandwich? The sandwich was in your face.
MR HUMPHRIES: I was not here for lunch. I was at Parliament House for lunch, Mr Berry.
Mr Berry: Was it lunch yesterday?
MR HUMPHRIES: Yesterday. Yes. Mr Berry's memory is not quite as good as he makes out, Madam Speaker. Mr Berry rang me yesterday and said that he proposed to move a motion today dealing with the membership of committees of the Assembly. He said words to this effect: "I propose to slot in everywhere that David Lamont has gone out". I said, "That is fine". Mr Berry did not raise with me the question of chairmanship of the committee. I, however, asked him, "Are you proposing to become chairman of PDI?". Mr Berry said, "Yes". That was where the pertinent part of the conversation ended. I stand by my comments in that conversation. I certainly came away with the impression that Mr Berry would become chairman of the PDI Committee. At no stage did I tell Mr Berry, or give him to understand - nor would I - that he would have that chairmanship by virtue of a motion on the floor of the Assembly.
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