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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 7 Hansard (19 October) . . Page.. 1874 ..
MR CONNOLLY (continuing):
high profile of auctioning taxi plates? Have you considered that the real benefit to the Liberal MLA is having his name associated with a gift to a local charity in his electorate? I note from the tender documents that that gift was specifically to be in the name of Harold Hird and Associates and was, in effect, public funds.
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Speaker, I think that this deserves a not longwinded answer - - -
Mr Connolly: This is a very dodgy practice.
MR DE DOMENICO: It is not. Mr Connolly, let me say this: The process that was allowed to happen was along the lines that were established when you were in government, by the way, and it is a process that has been long established throughout all the other States and Territories and the Federal Government in this country. The Minister - any Minister - quite rightly does not get involved at all in the process. It was assessed by - - -
Mr Connolly: You are happy about uncommercial tenders going to companies associated with Liberal members.
MR DE DOMENICO: You asked the question. Listen and you will get an answer. It might not be the one you like to hear, but you will get the answer you asked for. This Minister found out about who had got the tender only after the tender was awarded on 9 October. I picked up the phone and said, "Has everything been done - - -"
Mr Berry: Pull the other leg; it whistles. Come on!
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Berry, if you have anything to say I suggest that you get on your feet and say it, or say it outside this place and see how you go. Once I knew, I picked up the telephone and said, "Has everything been done according to the process?". The answer was, "Yes". That being done, Mr Connolly, it would be unethical for me, or any other Minister, to then make a decision one way or the other, unless that process was not fulfilled to the nth degree.
MS HORODNY: My question is to Mrs Carnell as Minister for Health and Community Care. Shortly after taking office you said that the homebirth option under the community midwife program would be available within a year. Can you assure the Assembly that homebirth will be offered as a choice to all Canberra women by March 1996?
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