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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 347 ..

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I would like to make a personal explanation pursuant to standing order 46.

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

MR BERRY: During question time, members opposite tried to draw some parallels between my period in office as the Minister for Health and other affairs and the way the Government is dealing with, firstly, the nurses dispute and, secondly, the dispute generally. As far as the issue of rosters for nurses is concerned, it is true that there was a dispute between the then Labor Government and the nurses in relation to rosters, but it was not over a fixation with the triple-eight roster. It was quite different from that, and Mrs Carnell knows it.

Mr Moore: But it included that.

MR BERRY: And Mr Moore should be advised of it. It did go to the Industrial Relations Commission and there was a decision by the commission in relation to family responsibilities. I think that generally clarifies the issue. We were supportive of the umpire, of course, which has not been the case with this Government. It was the umpire who was supported by the Australian Labor Party, and it will ever continue to be so.

In relation to the bus drivers, Mrs Carnell tried to draw a parallel with the way I dealt with industrial relations in relation to bus drivers when she said that I had said that I did not condone the use of buses. I would not disagree that I would say that because that would be a response from a Minister, but I would never call the cops in the middle of an industrial dispute on this sort of issue.

MR SPEAKER: That is hardly explaining matters of a personal nature.

MR BERRY: So do not try to draw parallels - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! The member has made the personal explanation.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I have been given leave to speak and I can continue until I am finished.

MR SPEAKER: No, you will not - not unless you follow standing order 46, which says:

Having obtained leave from the Chair, a Member may explain matters of a personal nature ...

MR BERRY: It is. This is of a personal nature. I have been accused of adopting the same lines as this Government adopted in relation to the bus drivers.

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