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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 289 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

Mr Speaker, another issue that Mrs Carnell raised was the suggestion that Ms Rees acted somehow improperly on the board of the Interim Kingston Foreshore Development Authority because she failed to declare her associated work with the Science Festival when the board allocated $40,000 to the Science Festival. In fact, she did declare it and she declared it in writing.

Mrs Carnell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: That is exactly what I said in the speech. She did declare it, and that is exactly what I said.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, I do not think it is a point of order, but I accept Mrs Carnell's version of events. (Extension of time granted) The fact is that Ms Rees was always up front about her association with the Science Festival. She did not participate in or contribute to the debates about the proposal to transfer $40,000 of the Interim Kingston Foreshore Development Authority funds to the Science Festival. Mr Speaker, what Mrs Carnell, perhaps, did not say was that the Interim Kingston Foreshore Development Authority board initially rejected the suggestion that they might donate $40,000 to the Science Festival. In fact, they changed their mind only after Mrs Carnell insisted that they change their mind.

Mrs Carnell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Members would be aware that I have no power at all to insist on how they spend their money. I have absolutely no power under the Act to do so.

MR WHITECROSS: This is not a point of order.

Mrs Carnell: It is a personal explanation, under standing order 46.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, under standing order 46. You can make it at the end of the debate, Mrs Carnell.

Mrs Carnell: That is fine. I am very happy to do so. It was a solar-powered boat race.

MR WHITECROSS: Yes; I know what it was. Mr Speaker, as I was saying, she insisted. Mrs Carnell will say in her personal explanation that she had no power to insist. Of course, as we all know, there is a climate of fear and intimidation which surrounds these matters, and members of the Interim Kingston Foreshore Development Authority board can be sacked for no good reason, at the whim of the Chief Minister. What board member would think twice about not abiding by the Chief Minister's wishes, especially when you had to be asked not once, but twice; you would not press it to a third occasion because she might then start drafting up one of those letters and handing it across to Mr De Domenico to sign.

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, that really is an unacceptable statement, and I ask the member to withdraw.

MR SPEAKER: Withdraw, Mr Whitecross.

MRS CARNELL: It suggests motives.

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