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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 3011 ..

Yesterday t MR BERRY (continuing):

he Government set out to pre-empt debate on this issue, waving around the motion which was to appear on the notice paper and trying to create the impression that this was some sort of a scaremongering tactic that had been developed at the drop of a hat because somebody on the Opposition benches thought it was a good idea. Let us make sure we get the record straight. Mr De Domenico, who made those statements, sits beside Mrs Carnell, who herself had received a letter on 1 July from Kippax Fair. The Government was fully aware that there was concern out in the community about cutting bus services from eight suburbs to Kippax Fair, in particular cutting the 409 route, which would affect 20 senior citizens who live at Collingrove Court in Scullin. As if it was not enough for the Government to know that it had already received advice from the community, we saw in the Chronicle, the Belconnen edition, for the week ending 15 July, "Bus route cuts loom". Of course, it was a report on the letter which was sent to Mrs Carnell on 1 July.

Later on I was contacted by a group of aged citizens from Collingrove Court in Scullin who were deeply concerned about their bus service and the way they had been treated. They had been treated with contempt. They had been told, "We are going to change the bus routes, but we will stick to ACTION standards. That is, you will not have to walk any further than 500 metres". That is half a kilometre for residents approaching their nineties, for heaven's sake. The fact of the matter is that there is a bus stop outside that centre. The attitude that was displayed to these senior citizens was outrageous. The Government - - -

Mr De Domenico: Is there anything we can do to make this man tell the truth, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR BERRY: I think he should withdraw that.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, I think so.

Mr De Domenico: What did I say that was wrong? I said, "Is there anything we can do to make this man tell the truth?".

MR BERRY: Yes, that is fair enough. That is exactly what you said.

MR SPEAKER: The implication is that Mr Berry is not telling the truth.

MR BERRY: Withdraw it.

Mr De Domenico: I will withdraw, Mr Speaker, and say "the whole truth".

MR SPEAKER: I suggest that there will be ample opportunity for all members who wish to participate in the debate to do so.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, he still has not withdrawn it. He is still making the same implication. He said "the whole truth", but that is an implication that I am - - -

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