Page 3567 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 19 October 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Gungahlin Golf Course
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, I would like, through you, to direct a question to Mr Wood, as Minister for Planning. Mr Wood, during the Estimates Committee hearings we were told that "the Gungahlin golf course was proposed originally to be a joint venture". There are two documents that relate to that. One was issued on 6 May 1992 - a very comprehensive one which was in fact a notice of sale by restricted auction. That failed. About a month later a second document was put out headed "Sale By Tender". Minister, can you tell me where in either of those documents the Government's intention that this would be a joint venture was stated? Secondly, at what stage in the process was that intention abandoned by the Government?
Mr Berry: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The standing orders clearly rule out questions in relation to proceedings in committee not reported to the Assembly.
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, I am prepared to take this question further. Certainly, Mr Kaine, I think, raised this in estimates, and I think he is - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Just a minute, Mr Wood. Let me have a look at this point of order. I am fairly relaxed about Ministers choosing or not choosing to answer questions. Let me have a look at this.
MR WOOD: I can answer it without transgressing standing orders, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: I was considering the setting of any precedent because, quite clearly, I have allowed other questions that have referred to estimates material. It is a clear transgression of standing orders to refer to matters that are under committee consideration.
MR KAINE: I can rephrase the question so that it does not refer to the Estimates Committee, if you like.
MADAM SPEAKER: I was going to say, however, that either the Minister can choose to phrase his answer so as not to refer to Estimates Committee material or Mr Kaine may rephrase his question.
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, I will rephrase the question. I will simply note that the tender documents in connection with this project do not state that the Government had any intention that this be a joint venture. If it does, perhaps the Minister can tell me where this is referred to in the documentation. If that was the Government's initial intention, at what stage during the process was that intention abandoned?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, Mr Kaine has the advantage in that he has the documentation in front of him and I do not.
Mr Kaine: You are the Minister. You should have your set.
MR WOOD: I have not come with that set of documentation. It is not right in front of me, so I cannot indicate where it is in that. At this stage I would have to say that the answer I gave or that Mr Guild gave at estimates time is the one that holds. We are happy on any occasion to provide the amplification that Mr Kaine seeks.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .