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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (22 November) . . Page.. 2273 ..

MS FOLLETT: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Mrs Carnell, if a royal commission is set up, will you undertake to make all of the relevant records of last Friday's events available to that royal commission?

MRS CARNELL: Of course. As I understand it, royal commissions have a capacity to require whatever records are available. I would hope that, after the coroner's report has come down, everybody will have an opportunity to look at that report. I am sure all of us want to know exactly what happened that night. I understand that all of the stakeholders have given or are giving evidence to the coroner, or are giving written reports to the coroner about the events.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr De Domenico. Minister, during the recent ACTEW corporatisation debate the one main reason, I suppose, why I supported your Government was that you promised in this Assembly to go along with my motion and set up an independent pricing tribunal to monitor the actions of ACTEW in relation to this area. Could you tell this Assembly on what day this tribunal was set up, who is on it, and was it consulted in relation to the decision yesterday to combine the water and electricity accounts into one superbill, for want of a better word?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Mr Osborne for his question. Yes, it is true that part of the legislation, Mr Osborne, did include the establishment of a tribunal. That being the case, the tribunal will be established because it would be illegal for us not to do so. Mr Osborne would also be aware that any future movement in prices cannot happen until 1 July next year anyway. I give this Assembly an assurance, and Mr Osborne an assurance, that before anything like that does happen a tribunal will be established.

MR OSBORNE: Given your answer, Mr De Domenico, does that mean that, every time I get an assurance from your Government, I am not to place any timeframe on it and am to just allow it to happen over the next 21/2 years?

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Osborne, you do not establish a tribunal overnight. I know that we have had a couple of months - - -

Mr Osborne: Six months has - - -

MR DE DOMENICO: Just wait. You asked the question and I will answer it for you. We are going to find out whether it is best to establish a tribunal or to use a tribunal outside the ACT in order to get a more impartial tribunal as well. We have to look at all those options, Mr Osborne. I can assure you that, once the Government is in a position to suggest what the best possible option and the best possible outcome is, we will come to you, Mr Osborne, and seek your advice and cooperation. I am sure that you will be satisfied.

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