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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (9 April) . . Page.. 766 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

The motion put forward by the Chief Minister serves to protect the interests of members of this place, not to accuse them of anything. It is simply to preserve their interests and make sure that they do not find themselves on the receiving end of litigation at some time in the future on the grounds that they were direct beneficiaries; they had a direct conflict of interest; they voted on poker machines in clubs and, therefore, they were in breach of the conflict of interest provisions. I think they need to take this issue very seriously and think about it - not just get hot under the collar and agitated, as the Leader of the Opposition did, and pretend that there is no problem. There may well be a problem which he should be thinking about very seriously.

MR OSBORNE (12.23): Mr Speaker, I thought I should get up and speak on this motion as I made paragraph (1). It says:

Mr Osborne currently receives a substantial remuneration that is primarily derived from gaming machines;

I do not know whom you have been talking to, Mrs Carnell, but it is not as substantial as I would have liked. Perhaps she can do something about it for me.

I will speak briefly on this issue, Mr Speaker. In 1992 I came to Canberra from Sydney. I signed a contract with the Canberra Raiders to play rugby league. I took 12 months' leave from the police force. I had no job when I arrived in town and I was fortunate enough to be employed by the West Belconnen Leagues Club five years ago. I have been involved with the club ever since. When I completed my career with the Raiders in 1994, about a month after - in October I think it was - I signed a contract to play football with the club and I have been playing - - -

Mr Kaine: You are going to have to join the Cowboys now.

MR OSBORNE: You wish, Trevor. I signed a contract to play rugby league with West Belconnen and, as I said, I have been tied up with the club ever since. This issue of poker machines is a very sensitive one. I am aware of that. When you read the standing order, Mr Speaker, it says:

Conflict of interest

A Member who is a party to, or has a direct or indirect interest in, a contract made by or on behalf of the Territory ...

I do not need to read it to you, Mr Speaker. When you look at that standing order - and the self-government Act basically says the same - I do not think my situation comes under it, technically. However, Mr Speaker, I believe that on an issue like this all members need to act on what their conscience tells them to do.

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