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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (25 February) . . Page.. 407 ..
Statement by Speaker and Paper
MR SPEAKER: I present, for the information of members, a copy of advice received from the Government Solicitor concerning the publication of a series of papers relating to the leases granted for car parking areas adjacent to the Woden Plaza in Phillip. The papers were tabled in the Assembly on the morning of 22 November 1996.
Members may recall that on 3 December 1996 I made a statement to the Assembly informing members of representations that had been made to me concerning the sensitivity of certain of the documents presented on 22 November. In that statement I informed members of my decision to use the discretion available to me as Speaker pursuant to standing order 212 and not give permission for other persons to inspect the documents or take copies of them or extracts from them. I also indicated that I had asked that legal advice be sought as to whether publication of the documents, particularly 10 of the documents nominated as containing sensitive information, may be actionable. I now present a copy of the legal advice.
Following my statement on 3 December, a motion was moved to authorise the publication of the documents tabled on 22 November. That matter is still before the Assembly and is listed as order of the day No. 22 under private members business. In view of the fact that the question of the publication of the documents is now before the Assembly for resolution, I do not propose to release the documents to persons other than members until the matter is resolved.
MR SPEAKER: I wish to inform the Assembly that, pursuant to standing order 8, I have nominated Mr Hird as a Temporary Deputy Speaker. He will take the chair when requested by either me or the Deputy Speaker. Mr Hird takes the position which was vacated by Mr Kaine on his appointment to the ministry. I present my warrant nominating Mr Hird.
Report
MR SPEAKER: I present, for the information of members, the Legislative Assembly Members Superannuation Board Report for 1995-96, pursuant to section 22 of the Superannuation (Legislative Assembly Members) Act 1991.
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