Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

None . . Page.. 151 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: If members opposite think that we were in a position to have arm-wrestled the Commonwealth, I think the question that needs to be asked is: Why was it that the previous Government did not do so? Why did not the previous Government sort these issues out when it said two or more years ago that it wanted to resolve them with the Commonwealth? Why did it not say, “We demand x billion dollars for our site at Acton and nothing less is going to be acceptable.”?

Ms Follett: I did.

MR HUMPHRIES: You never managed to sort that matter out.

Mr Moore: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Standing order 118(a) provides that answers to questions shall be concise and confined to the subject matter of the question. Mr Berry asked a question of Mr Humphries about how he was consulted and what reply he gave. We have not heard anything at all on that.

Mr Wood: After the event, he said.

MR SPEAKER: I found it difficult to hear much of it at all at the beginning, Mr Moore, due to the extraneous noise in the chamber. Mr Humphries might be drawing his answer to a conclusion.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the Chief Minister did discuss with me the implications of this decision. As Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning, I discussed with her the issues from my perspective that would be relevant from the standpoint of the environment and the planning considerations necessary for this decision to proceed. I gave the decision my full support, having tendered that advice, and having heard her account of the reasons that the Commonwealth had given us for acceptance of this proposal.

MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question. I note that, again, there was not a full and formal Cabinet decision in relation to this matter.

Mrs Carnell: How do you know?

MR BERRY: I am not convinced by the answers that have been given here, or the interjections, that there has been a Cabinet decision. If there has been a Cabinet decision and you really want to prove it, table it.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, I refer you to standing order 119 in relation to supplementary questions. One of the conditions is that it contains no preamble. Could we have the question, please?

MR BERRY: In relation to your duties, Mr Humphries, could you advise what agreements you have reached, or even sought, to give the ACT Planning Authority control over the entire Kingston site?

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .