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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1770 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

The Hare-Clark system is a red herring. It has nothing to do with it. This is about an opposition party, a political party, in a multiparty democracy taking on the executive government of the day. For those who do not belong to political parties, that is their decision. If they could not make it in a political party, they have decided to run as Independents and take the risk. If you do not belong to a political party, it does not mean that the system of a multiparty democracy is wrong. It does not make it wrong that a multiparty democracy is the system in which we work. It is a well-proven system which in some countries people will die for.

This is about an effective multiparty democracy putting the executive government to the test in the Westminster system. Sometimes Independents get a little bit upset about that and claim that the system is not working because they do not have control of it. That is a cry we often hear. But long-term parties and parties that are here for the long haul want to make executive governments more accountable. If you are here for the short haul and you are worried only about yourself, I can see why you would not be interested in that. I am surprised at the Greens' approach. I am also surprised at the Liberals' approach. I am not surprised at all at the Independents' approach. The Liberals may have to face this issue themselves one day. They have set the pattern. If Mrs Carnell's performance is any indication - although she has blitzed the media, one out of four people do not know her and she is 5 per cent behind us on her own polling - then the Liberals may be wrestling with this situation sooner than they think. This is a motion that makes sense in the Westminster system of multiparty parliamentary democracy. It makes no sense to Independents. I can see why. Theirs is an issue of self-interest, not the interest of the system. I am surprised that the Greens are not supportive and I am surprised that the Liberals are not, but I repeat that this is about protecting the mistakes of the Greens and the Independents. They made the mistake of supporting a Liberal government. Now they want to protect it.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I would like to make a personal explanation. I would just remind you, Mr Berry, that I did not cost you government; the people of Canberra did. When I stood up in the election I said that I would support the Chief Minister of the party that won the most votes, and it was the Liberal Party. You got kicked out. So, blame the people of Canberra; do not blame us.

Question put:

That the motion (Mr Berry's) be agreed to.

The Assembly voted -

	AYES, 6	 			NOES, 11

	Mr Berry		Mrs Carnell	Mrs Littlewood
	Mr Corbell		Mr Cornwell	Mr Moore
	Ms McRae		Mr Hird		Mr Osborne
	Ms Reilly		Ms Horodny	Mr Stefaniak
	Mr Whitecross		Mr Humphries	Ms Tucker
	Mr Wood			Mr Kaine

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