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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (30 June) . . Page.. 1843 ..


MR KAINE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I have to say that the charges laid by the Leader of the Opposition against the Chief Minister may even be trivial compared to another matter that looms on the horizon. I will give you a quote, Mr Speaker:

A person who conspires with another person to effect a purpose that is unlawful under a law of the Territory -

and I emphasise this bit -

or to effect a lawful purpose by means that are unlawful under a law of the Territory, is guilty of an offence punishable, on conviction, by imprisonment for three years.

That quote, Mr Speaker, comes from section 349, the conspiracy provisions, of the ACT Crimes Act. I do not believe that the Chief Minister sat up there in her office in glorious isolation and did all this by herself. I think there is a question of just how serious this matter is. The Chief Minister and these people are sitting over here. I notice Mr Smyth is smiling. This is just a minor, trivial affair. It may not be at the end of the day. So, Mr Speaker, we come to this debate on a want of confidence in this Chief Minister. There are some things that I still need to say, Mr Speaker, and I will be seeking a further extension of time.

Debate interrupted.

ADJOURNMENT

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Moore: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

CHIEF MINISTER

Motion of Want of Confidence

Debate resumed.

MR KAINE: (Extension of time granted) First, Mr Speaker, I would like to say that the mythology relied on by some has to be dispelled. Contrary to what has been asserted, the Auditor-General is not the arbitrator in this matter. The Auditor-General is not the umpire. He is not the referee. A simple reading of section 10 of the Auditor-General Act 1996 will quickly establish this fact. Those who are relying on the Auditor-General to pull the irons out of the fire need to go and refresh their reading of that Act.


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