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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 2126 ..

Mr Stanhope: I am seeking your guidance actually, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, if it is possible for me to do this. If Mr Smyth is prepared now to stand up and repeat that apology, I would like to withdraw the motion.

Mr Berry: For misleading the house.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Mr Berry!

Mr Stanhope: If Mr Smyth is prepared to repeat the apology he made - - -

Mr Humphries: Just because you were not listening is no reason for him to have to do it a second time.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I am taking guidance from the members.

Mr Berry: You mean he will not apologise.

Mr Moore: Withdraw it and put your censure motion another time after you have read Hansard.

Mr Berry: No, no; he can apologise.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry and the Minister will come to order. There must be something in the water. Someone has been in New South Wales.

MS TUCKER (5.26): I did not understand that Mr Smyth totally clarified the position either. I will have to look at Hansard. I do not see why there is such a problem with him clarifying now if he wants to apologise. I do not see why he would be afraid to do that again if we did not hear it. The point that I think is being missed here is that when Mr Smyth made the comments yesterday in answer to Mr Rugendyke he made claims that we are all very familiar with. Today when he clarified the situation, in fact for me, he actually made things worse because what he did in attempting to clarify was misrepresent the impression that he gave when you look at yesterday's Hansard. I am not talking about whether or not it is a firm option or not a firm option. I understand that Mr Thurston is supporting his Minister now by saying he considered that he was right to say that there was no firm option. Obviously there are other versions and understandings of what is a firm option and what is not. I do not think that is the point in this discussion. What I think is the point is that Mr Smyth said in the second part of his answer:

I said the other day, when I announced that the Government would be seeking expressions of interest for the tendering out of the management of ACTION, that of course we would negotiate with the TWU. We believe that negotiations should continue, but I am yet to hear from the TWU.

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