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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1037 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (12.21): I would like to enter the debate on the question of Ms Hanson's comments and address the issue before the Assembly. I will make one small observation on what Mr Berry has had to say. I did attend a meeting about the aftermath of the Wik decision in Sydney a few months ago, representing the Chief Minister. If Mr Berry imagines that it was only the conservative Premiers around the table who wanted to wind back the consequences of the Wik decision, then he seriously misunderstands the position of his Labor colleagues in New South Wales.

Mr Berry: And you are seriously misleading the Assembly by saying that I said that, because I did not.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, Mr Berry is reflecting in an unparliamentary way - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I did not say what he said I said. I withdraw the word "misleading".

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

MR HUMPHRIES: I reaffirm that it is not just conservative members of governments around this country who have been anxious to wind back the consequences of the Wik decision. I can assure Mr Berry that at that meeting I represented a point of view which was much more sympathetic to the interests of Aboriginal people than was the view of Mr Carr.

Ms McRae: It is safe for you. It is a safe, easy, cheap shot.

MR HUMPHRIES: It is true.

Ms McRae: It is a cheap shot. I am not impressed.

MR HUMPHRIES: It might be a cheap shot, but it is true.

Ms McRae: You wind Borbidge back, and then I will be impressed. I am not interested in your view.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR HUMPHRIES: I have nothing to do with Mr Borbidge. I have no connection with Mr Borbidge.

MR SPEAKER: Order! We are discussing Ms Hanson's book.

Mr Moore: The Truth.

MR HUMPHRIES: Indeed, the truth is what we are all talking about, and I am happy to talk about the truth.

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