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been privatised. Either they are totally wrong, they have completely got the wrong end of the stick, or they have done something which their own experience over the last few years has proved that there is a need to do. Mr Speaker, that is the case here. We owe it to this community to keep ACTEW on the competitive edge. We do a disservice to our community if we are not prepared to make those decisions to put it in that position. I would urge members, therefore, to put aside their ideological objections to the idea of corporate entities and corporate milieus and instead agree that this legislation is extremely important for the future of cheaper electricity in this Territory.

MR MOORE (9.29): Mr Speaker, is it not great to be here on a Tuesday night having our late night sitting, as those of us who sought to change the program from the conventional Tuesday night sitting indicated that we expected would happen on occasions? That being the case, Mr Speaker, I must say that I welcome being here and welcome particularly the contributions by a number of members who sought to enlighten us on a range of issues. I note the contrast between the debating styles of Labor members. Andrew Whitecross presented sensible, albeit ideologically based, arguments. That contrasted greatly with the continuing stunts of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Wayne Berry, who probably ought to be known as the stunt master. Mr Speaker, some of the statements from Mr Berry really made me cringe when I thought back to the previous three years when he had been in government and particularly when he had been a Minister. I now hear exactly the opposite things coming from Mr Berry. It seems very strange to me.

Mr Speaker, a wide range of reasons have been presented as to why we ought to proceed with this corporatisation and a wide range of reasons have been presented as to why we ought not. For me, it fundamentally boils down to a changing culture in ACTEW. In the last three years, under the guidance of its chief, Mike Sargent, ACTEW has seen a great change in the way that ordinary people deal with ACTEW. We have seen a great change already in the whole culture of the way people deal with ACTEW. Some of that credit must go to the Minister responsible at the time. For most of the time, if not all of the time, that was Terry Connolly. I think great credit is due there.

Mr Speaker, it seems to me that at the last election there was a significant rejection of the way Labor had been managing the Territory, and people looked to a new way of management. As I understand it, that new way of management includes allowing the Liberal Government to operate in a way in which we would expect a Liberal government to operate. However, the Chief Minister points out to us that in fact we are getting a similar operation from the New South Wales Government, which I recall her saying is corporatising 15 bodies within New South Wales. What I am interested in seeing, Mr Speaker, is a development of the cultural change that has already occurred. That cultural change should apply not only to the economic running of ACTEW but also to its environmental role and its role as the seller of energy rather than as just a business that deals with electricity and water.

Mr Speaker, there is no doubt that over the last three years there has been significant change in the way ACTEW operates and in its response to questions raised by this Assembly. As chair of the Environment Committee, I certainly remember dealing with the issue of co-generation of electricity. I remember the response that came back from the Minister and the Government. I also remember the very positive response from ACTEW,

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