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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2917 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

an increasing polarisation of the community in Tahiti and in the region. It would be good for a change if we saw the Federal Government and its colleagues here, the Liberal Party here, actually acknowledge that we do have a responsibility for the people of the Pacific, and not only condemning what France has done but also condemning what this Federal Government is doing in refusing to accept its responsibilities for greenhouse.

MR WHITECROSS (Leader of the Opposition) (10.48): I am interested to know why Mr De Domenico is listening to the enlightened views on greenhouse, but we will not dwell on that today.

Mr De Domenico: No; you had better not. You will not be leader tomorrow. You had better do it today, while you are still on your feet.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, the motion we are considering today is about the lifting of the ban on French products. The Opposition will be supporting the motion. Apart from factual errors, we do not have any substantial problems with the Greens' amendment.

Mrs Carnell: That is right; they usually do not let facts get in the way.

Mr De Domenico: That is right; no change.

MR WHITECROSS: I said, "Apart from factual errors". I trust that the Greens are going to amend that.

Mr De Domenico: Never let the truth spoil a good headline.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, is Mr De Domenico going to be allowed to talk incessantly?

MR SPEAKER: No; you are going to speak.

MR WHITECROSS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Liberal Party have nothing to be proud of in relation to this matter. Mrs Carnell and Mr De Domenico came into this place when this motion was first debated and talked about it being stupid and silly. They showed absolutely no regard for the importance of this issue to the Australian public and to the people of the South Pacific. Subsequent events have demonstrated that their judgment on this was way out, because the Australian community had the very strongest reaction to the decision of the French to test in the Pacific.

Mrs Carnell: Nobody else put on a ban.

Mr De Domenico: That is right.

Mrs Carnell: No other State put on a ban. The Federal Labor Government did not put on a ban. We were the only ones who did.

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