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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 3741 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

When I mentioned to somebody that I was going to ask a question about this matter, the suggestion put to me was, "You should also ask Mr Humphries why it is that his office is the only ministerial office where the phones actually ring out". I thought I would mention that to you in this context as well.

What is being brought out here through my question and coincidentally through Ms Horodny's question - I had no idea she was going to ask it - is just what is happening. Things are going wrong. You are not getting an efficient operation going and getting replies out. In my case, Mr Humphries, there were a couple of times when we discussed matters, and I think it was quite right that you drew attention to that. Nevertheless, it is the normal process to acknowledge some things in writing. I went through copies of the letters I wrote to see whether there was anything extraordinary in them; but they are, by and large, letters drawing your attention to the fact that I was still waiting for a proper answer.

As far as I am concerned, the issue that Ms Horodny raises is a quite important one. It is about how we deal with you as a Minister and get decent answers. The Minister has given an answer to Ms Horodny's question. Nevertheless, we want to feel that we can approach your office and get reasonable answers. To put it in context, I must say that there are a number of people in your office whom I have approached and got very efficient responses from. I will not name specific people. At one stage when I was trying to get statistics on traffic accidents and heroin deaths I asked somebody in your office. I pointed out that I was in a hurry for the information, and the answer came back to me very rapidly. I think it is worth my putting matters in context by saying that there have certainly been times when I have had very efficient responses from your office. Nevertheless, there is a concern that for some reason some things seem to get buried.

MR BERRY (3.41): Mr Speaker, in the course of the continuing vote of no confidence in the Health Minister, the point was made that this - - -

Mrs Carnell: What is this about, Mr Speaker?

MR BERRY: This is about this motion. There is a motion, if you had been listening. The point was made - and I think it is right - that the Government had a bit of an attitude problem. This attitude problem is plainly described as rank arrogance. This is not the first time that Ministers and their departments have refused to answer questions.

Mrs Carnell: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I ask whether this is relevant to the motion that is on the table.

MR BERRY: Yes, it is.

MR SPEAKER: I am listening very carefully, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, there is a motion before the Chair. Mrs Carnell might squirm a bit.

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