Page 700 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 July 1989
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MR SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, do you wish to make a personal explanation?
MR WHALAN: Yes, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Do you claim to have been misrepresented?
MR WHALAN: Yes.
MR SPEAKER: You may proceed.
MR WHALAN: Yesterday, Mr Speaker, Mr Collaery asked me whether I would confirm that on 24 April 1989 I met with a director of Wollongong Constructions to discuss, amongst other things, the section 19 development. My response was, "Mr Speaker, regardless of the date, I have never met with a director of Wollongong Constructions to discuss section 19". Then Mr Collaery asked a supplementary question in which he asked whether I would confirm that I met on that date with a director of Wollongong Constructions, and I said, "Mr Speaker, I would have to refer to my diary...I do not dispute the fact. I have met with Geoff Da Deppo, who is a director or one of the directors of Wollongong Constructions, and I have met with John Da Deppo, his brother, on another occasion and in that time frame. But I will certainly check the diary, and I will let the member know at question time tomorrow".
I was a bit puzzled by the question. I appealed across the floor to Mr Collaery and Mr Collaery said, "You arrived at the meeting in the company of Mr Grassby". As I promised in response to the supplementary question, I will now provide the further information. By way of background it might be helpful to remind Assembly members that any ACT Minister charged with responsibilities for territorial development will need to meet with a large number of actual and potential investors if she or he is going to be successful in achieving our common objectives for economic development.
As a matter of course, discussions with current and potential investors will take place at ministerial request and at the request of the investors on development sites, in the Minister's office and even at social occasions. That is, discussions will occur whenever and wherever the opportunity to pursue economic and social development presents itself. Indeed, yesterday before these questions were raised in the chamber, I had breakfast with six representatives of major companies in the construction industry to discuss specifically the Civic Square redevelopment project.
There should be no inference that such discussions are improper; they are essential to the job and to our mutual endeavours. All members of the Assembly will have similar contacts. For that reason I am willing to answer questions concerning one such discussion but would have to remind the Assembly that neither Ministers nor Assembly members can
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