Page 1521 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 18 May 1993
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conducted beyond that. I do not believe that this Assembly should authorise somebody to conduct an inquiry into a decision that we have made, and we - all 17 of us, Mr Moore - made the decision to vary the land use for section 22. Up to that stage I have no difficulty in relation to a number of the issues that you raise.
One of them is not, however, the design and siting. In relation to this question of mates, I do apologise, Mr Moore. Do you know what has happened? I have a mate. He is the bloke who works for the Canberra Times that I have a beer with every now and again at the Hotel Kingston. I apologise for having a mate who works at the Canberra Times. I am sorry; I have had a beer with the arts editor of the Canberra Times at the Hotel Kingston.
Mr Kaine: Is he charged with overacting?
MR LAMONT: Well, sometimes he does. That is probably why he is the arts editor and I am not. But let us go on. I have had a beer with the Chief Minister at the Hotel Kingston.
Ms Follett: You have not.
MR LAMONT: I am sure it was you, Chief Minister. I have actually had a beer with the current Leader of the Opposition at the Hotel Kingston, Mr Moore. Mr Moore, I am even prepared to have a beer with you at the Hotel Kingston.
Mrs Grassby: I would not go that far.
MR LAMONT: Well, I would, Ellnor, because I am generous. I happen to believe that it is probably the nicest little pub in Canberra. If that is an offence, I would like you to show me where it is an offence. If you can do that, I would have to consider not going there. But I tell you what; it would be hard to give up my "Kingo" mate. It would be hard to give up the "Kingo". It is the only decent country pub left in Canberra. Mr Moore, you talk about what I choose to do. I presume that that was the inference, because I cannot think of any other. If there was any other inference, I am sure that you would make it outside the chamber and not inside the chamber. Maybe I am being generous as well.
Let us look at what you have done over the last number of months. You have called for reviews of the whole development proposal for section 22. Not once have you raised these concerns publicly or with me as chair of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, or, dare I say it, with Ms Szuty, a member of the Planning Committee, your Independent colleague. Not once have you raised them with the then Leader of the Opposition, a continuing member of the PDI Committee, or with the current Deputy Leader of the Opposition or, indeed, with the current Leader of the Opposition. Yet you get up here this afternoon with a mantle, saying, "I am concerned about urban consolidation in relation to section 22, but there is this group of mates who are doing it all". If you have something you specifically want us to pursue, put it on the table. (Extension of time granted)
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