Page: 9988
Personal Explanation
Mr MERTON, by leave: I wish to make a personal explanation. Earlier today the Premier took great glee in telling the Chamber that I had made a statement supporting the abolition of cashback. He referred to an AAP article to support this. I have a copy of that article. The Premier must have been reading a different article. The article I have says, amongst other things:
Opposition spokesman for Western Sydney, Wayne Merton, said the government should also improve the cashback system on the M4 and M5—
That is hardly wanting to abolish it—
but admitted that a Liberal government would not offer the refunds to motorists.
The article goes on to say:
And Mr Merton said he did not support a cashback program for the M2 because the Carr government had not promised one.
All that was said was there was no cashback program for the M2 because the Government had not promised one. If members of the Government still have some doubts—and they are thicker than I thought they were if they have—the article went on to say:
Mr Merton said the government should overhaul the scheme to ensure all motorists received a refund.
That is not abolition. The man who allegedly said he would abolish cashback said:
We would like the cashback program upgraded so that motorists in fact do get the money rather than just 40 per cent (of motorists).
I rest my case. The Premier has misled the House; he has distorted what I said. I have been quoted out of context, as are so many people by the Premier.