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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 409 ..

MS HORODNY: My question is directed to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr De Domenico.

Mr Humphries: What about me?

MS HORODNY: It is not your turn today. As the Minister would be aware, work has just commenced - - -

Mr Humphries: You promised.

MS HORODNY: There is one coming for you soon. Work has just commenced for the Government on a consultancy to examine and report on the future of Canberra Airport as a transport and economic entity. I understand that a steering committee has been established for the consultancy. I draw the Minister's attention to recommendation No. 19 of the Estimates Committee, which stated:

... that the group which will be established to advise the Government on the future of Canberra Airport include representatives of a peak environment group and resident groups.

The Government agreed to this recommendation in principle and appointed a community representative. However, a department officer from BAST has told my staff that no environmental representative has been appointed because there were no environmental implications of the consultancy. Can the Minister confirm that he believes that there are no environmental considerations associated with the future plans for Canberra Airport and that this is the reason why he ignored part of the Estimates Committee's recommendations?

MR DE DOMENICO: I thank Ms Horodny for her question. I cannot confirm what a BAST officer said to members of your staff, to be honest, because I was not there. No, the Minister does not agree that there are no environmental aspects; that is nonsense. Anyone that said that should not have said it. If there is not someone that has environmental expertise on the committee, we will make sure that there is someone on it that has.

MS McRAE: My question is directed to the Chief Minister in her capacity as Minister for Health. Mrs Carnell, given that your Liberal colleagues in Victoria value nursing home beds in that State at $12,000 to $14,000 for the licence alone, how can you claim that the Jindalee deal was good for the ACT when the cost to the tenderer for the Jindalee Nursing Home beds is about $3,000 per bed and you threw in the building for free?

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