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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2228 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

I might say that I do not recall that when Mr Humphries began his campaign there was any reference to doing this in association with the New South Wales Government; so I would not accept, as a reason for not having the helicopter, failure to come to that agreement, because it was not part of the deal at the outset. I think it is time that Mr Humphries indicated the extent to which he has been able to reach agreement, if at all, with the New South Wales Government, and where this helicopter proposal is at. Is it still on the ground, or is its motor about to start?

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (5.15): I do not have my pilots licence as yet, Mr Wood, but when I do you will be very welcome to be my first passenger.

Mr Wood: No way.

MR HUMPHRIES: Oh, Mr Wood, be braver than that. You need to take risks in life, and I certainly have when it has come to pushing this particular issue. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, the move to get a rescue helicopter service for the ACT is a personal campaign of mine. (Quorum formed) I am pleased to see so many members down here to hear my remarks about the Emergency Services Bureau budget, and I thank them for their interest.

Mr Wood asked me what the progress is and when we are likely to see lift-off. I have promised or foreshadowed lift-off of this project within certain timeframes a number of times in the past and I have been disappointed on each of those occasions. I, therefore, have firmly resolved, as a new year's resolution, not to make predictions about something which is going to happen in the future in this area. I will predict the arrival of a helicopter when I see its rotor blades turning and the pilot there and everything about to happen, and that is when it will occur.

Mr Berry: It has been a stunt from the start, Gary.

MR HUMPHRIES: It is unfortunate that there has been some criticism of the proposal. Calling it a stunt and so on is very unfortunate. You really get the impression that there is nothing whatever that this Government can do in any field at all that is of any value or worth when it comes to the views of those opposite. I certainly look forward to the day, no matter how long and hard it has to be fought for, when - - -

Mr Moore: Mr Wood just congratulated you.

MR HUMPHRIES: He did, but Mr Berry does not seem to share the same point of view. I look forward to the day when we can have this service in the ACT. I would hope that even the fiercest critics of the service will see, when that happens, when that day arrives, that the ACT community and our region will be better covered and better protected by its existence. If it has meant a lot of heartburn, the tearing out of hair, the slashing of wrists, and other political manoeuvrings and stunts, as Mr Berry puts it, to get to the point, will it not all have been monumentally worth while? Will it not have been a major step forward for this community and will not we all be prepared at that stage to join together and welcome its arrival?

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