Page 748 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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Let us study his words on that occasion. On page 16, he refers to a visit that he made to Northbourne Flats. The points that Mr Collaery made on this matter were, first of all, that he returned to this building. Secondly, he asked for the records. Thirdly, he says:
I found a document ... prepared during Mrs Grassby's tenure as Minister for Housing ...
Fourthly, he went on to say:
That document was for the proposal to the Housing Trust during Mrs Grassby's tenure as Minister for Housing, proposing a development by Civil and Civic of the site.
The grammar is his own, Mr Speaker, but as I have quoted it, I have persisted with it. That was what Mr Collaery said to this Assembly on 20 March. The inferences that Mr Collaery intended to be drawn - and quite clearly intended to be drawn - based on the document he tabled, were as follows: firstly, that he had obtained a previously concealed document. Rubbish.
Mr Duby: How long do we have to put up with this?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Duby, I warn you! Please do not interject.
MS FOLLETT: The inferences that Mr Collaery intended this house to get from his remarks on 20 March were quite clear - that he had obtained a previously concealed document. Secondly, that document was prepared or authorised by or prepared with the knowledge and approval of Mrs Grassby. And thirdly, that the document contained a proposal for the redevelopment of the Northbourne Flats site by Civil & Civic. If Mr Collaery thinks that was not the inference that was coming through on 20 March, he is in grave error. No such inferences can be drawn.
The facts are as follows: firstly, the document that Mr Collaery made so much of is a letter from Civil & Civic to Ms Joan Westaway, the property manager of the ACT Housing Trust. Secondly, Mrs Grassby never at any stage saw the letter nor knew of its existence. Thirdly, the letter relates to a proposal to provide new stock, and I quote, "for the Trust on various sites around Canberra". Fourthly, it contains reference to a joint venture proposal in Rugby Park. And finally, that letter contains no reference whatsoever to Northbourne Flats. They are not mentioned.
One of the greatest crimes in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy is to mislead the Parliament. The fact that in this case the deception had been wilful, malicious and misleading draws this house and the member opposite into disrepute. That disrepute is heightened by his radio comments that in seeking to stop Mrs Grassby embarrassing, he would take legal action, take out an injunction. That is disgraceful.
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