Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1543 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

I have to say that it was not a terribly popular move when Labor decided to introduce this legislation. Boardrooms of licensed clubs right around the Territory were not very happy, owners of restaurants were not very happy and smokers were not very happy. A large number of people were not very happy about it. But it was a principle that was worth fighting for. If you want to be a populist and respond to the pressure of people like the tobacco industry and the AHA, you can do so; but you have to be prepared to be named for it. If you want to be principled, develop policies within a party structure, sell them to the community and stick by them, then you deserve to hold your head up high. But you do not deserve to hold your head up high if you are unprincipled on this issue. You do not deserve to hold your head up high if you are not concerned about the future health of the community. You should bow your head in shame if you vote for this legislation.

MR MOORE (5.46): Mr Berry says, "If you want to be principled, take some action". I wonder what he has been reading to get these ideas. The very reason that the legislation that has made restaurants smoke free has been so widely welcomed around Canberra and so successful is that it took into account what people needed and what people wanted, but at the same time sent a very clear message.

Mr Berry: You hypocrite!

Mr Humphries: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Berry used the word "hypocrite". I think that has been outlawed in the past, and I ask that he withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Did you use the term, Mr Berry?

Mr Berry: I did. I am sorry. Michael, I am so glad you are on your feet painting the picture for us.

MR MOORE: Thank you. The reason that legislation was so successful is that there was a compromise made from a fascist approach taken by Mr Berry. It was simply modified.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, the term "fascist" is entirely unbelievable. People know that I come from a different direction.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Moore, did you use the term "fascist"?

MR MOORE: I said "a fascist approach", which I think is probably in order; but I withdraw if any offence was taken.

People like me enjoy going to a smoke-free restaurant. People who are particularly keen on smoking can go to a restaurant not too far from here that I use regularly. There smokers sit in appropriately airconditioned space and have their cigarettes, and it does not affect me one iota. I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke. I am also reasonably sensitive to comments that Mr Berry made earlier about the tobacco industry. I do not recall being lobbied on this issue by the tobacco industry. I do recall at some stage

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .