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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 2045 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

had authorised the sell-down of the Williamsdale quarry was a letter executed almost a year and a half ago to facilitate the acquisition by Totalcare of the quarry in the first place. As a result of that authority, Totalcare in fact went on to acquire a 50 per cent holding in the Williamsdale quarry.

Mr Berry: No, sorry-dispose of 50 per cent, Gary.

MR HUMPHRIES: No, Mr Speaker. They acquired a 50 per cent holding in the Williamsdale quarry.

Mr Berry: They disposed of it.

MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mr Berry.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, having acquired that 50 per cent interest in the quarry, I understand it is now impossible under the Territory Owned Corporations Act for any part of that venture to be sold down or given away or otherwise disposed of without the express permission of the Legislative Assembly. So, any authority to acquire a certain part of the Williamsdale quarry on Totalcare's part clearly does not extend to selling down that asset once acquired. It has been acquired, it is in Totalcare's hands and it cannot be disposed of without a motion of this Assembly. Incidentally, Mr Speaker, it also requires the authority of the government-authority which is not presently available.

Mr Berry has drawn an extremely long bow. He has cast aspersions in this place on my honesty and if he had any integrity at all he would apologise for that. But obviously he will not do that.

Mr Speaker, these are the sorts of untruths which get put around in this place on a regular basis by Mr Berry. I do not want to reflect on his character but accusations of the kind which lead people to believe that politicians are dishonest do not reflect very well on self-government.

Mr Speaker, I have been completely honest with this Assembly both here and in the Estimates Committee about this matter and nothing Mr Berry has said today has in any way cast doubt on that.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

MR BERRY: Mr Humphries invited me to apologise. I will be making no apology. I think Mr Humphries got some of the facts and figures wrong so I might just refresh-

MR SPEAKER: You have been given leave to make a personal explanation, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Well, I will do it by some other means, Mr Speaker. I seek leave to make a statement in relation to the Williamsdale quarry.

Leave granted.

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