Page 2638 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 1994
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The Victorian Racing Minister lied to the Victorian Assembly, because he knew very well that there were going to be no inducements offered by VITAB. That is the first fib. There are a few others.
Mr Humphries: Come on! Professor Pearce said that there could be inducements offered by VITAB.
Mr De Domenico: So Professor Pearce is telling lies too, is he?
MR BERRY: I will explain why. Early the next year I met that Minister from Victoria and provided him with a written undertaking from VITAB that they would not offer any inducements. At the Racing Ministers meeting he had the piece of paper demonstrating clearly to him that there would be no inducements, but he went on to say this in the Victorian Parliament:
It is a potential gigantic scam in the racing industry and I will not tolerate it.
Quite frankly, he fibbed to the Victorian Parliament. This is another interesting part:
As I said earlier, the Victorian TAB decided to sever its links with the ACTTAB. Last year I suggested that the third-party - - -
Mr Humphries: Madam Speaker - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Just a minute, Mr Berry. We have a point of order.
Mr Humphries: I seek your ruling, Madam Speaker, about saying that people told lies. "Fibbing" has been ruled out of order in this place in respect of members, and I think that the term is generally frowned upon in any context. I would ask you, therefore, to rule on that matter.
Mrs Carnell: You would rule it out of order in this place, so how can he say it about another place?
MADAM SPEAKER: No. The standing order pertains specifically to improper imputations against members. That is one of the things that the lawyers get so angry about. Within the chamber you are not allowed to impute improper motives to another member. The rest is within the realms of what is parliamentary and unparliamentary language. Part of the right of free speech is that you are allowed to call other people names. Continue, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: It was at the initiative of the Victorian Minister that the ACTTAB links with VicTAB were cut. That was at the instigation of the Victorian Minister. He had said earlier that it was because of inducements. I just demonstrated to you that he had not told the truth in respect of that, because he had a letter which made that very clear. In relation to the ACT Opposition's position, I will quote from his response to the question. He said this:
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