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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (20 June) . . Page.. 1981 ..

MR WHITECROSS: I ask a supplementary question. I take it from Mr De Domenico's answer that there was not a competitive oral quotation; that they just picked the consultant because of specific expertise. Mr Minister, are you aware that, after you had announced the consultancy, a Jobline executive rang the Bird Cameron consultant who had this special expertise you mentioned and the consultant replied that they knew nothing about this consultancy that had been awarded to them on the basis of their special expertise? Are you also aware, Minister, that the consultant remarked that maybe it had something to do with the message that Mrs Carnell had left on his answering machine, asking him to ring her urgently? Do you still assure the Assembly that the correct procedure was scrupulously followed when awarding this contract to Bird Cameron?

MR DE DOMENICO: The answer to the last question is yes. Secondly, after the first meeting with Jobline, the first thing they did was to go straight down to Mr Whitecross's office.

Ms McRae: So they should.

MR DE DOMENICO: There is Chicken Person coming in again. I am sorry; I mean Ms McRae. I withdraw "Chicken Person" and substitute "Ms McRae".

Once again, Mr Whitecross was bleating out in the media, "The world is going to end in five minutes' time because the Government refused to fund Jobline". The Government was prepared to put that offer on the table, Mr Speaker, before the people from Jobline - - -

Mr Berry: I raise a point of order. I think the question went something along the lines of "Can you assure the Assembly that you followed the proper procedures scrupulously?" and "Are you aware of what actually went on in relation to this matter?". It had nothing to do with the media campaign of - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr De Domenico is answering the question as he sees fit.

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Speaker, I suggest that there is no point of order. Mr Berry might not like the answer that he is getting; but he is going to get it anyway. So he should sit back and take his medicine, as we all do from time to time.

Mr Speaker, in relation to Mr Whitecross's supplementary question, I am also advised that Mrs Carnell personally did not leave a message on anybody's answering machine. So, Mr Whitecross, once again, get your facts straight before you stand up here in this place and bleat away. We know that you are the ersatz Leader of the Opposition. You should turn around and get some messages from Ms Follett. Ms Follett, at least, when she came into this place as Leader of the Opposition, had her facts straight. Until you do get your facts straight, Mr Whitecross, you will get answers that you deserve.

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