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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 551 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I really wonder where the Conservation Council does its research and gets its information. Mr Darlington, the director of the Conservation Council, has made what I would call a base grade chemistry error in making these statements. They are not just fairly innocent statements, either. They are statements that affect a large number of people in the northern part of Canberra, and I take that very seriously. I remind members that in 1995 Mr Darlington told us that cleaning up contamination of soil at the Olympics site in Homebush may cost in excess of $234m. I will quote what the Canberra Times said about that on that occasion, because it is very apposite to the situation here today. It said:

This information was not difficult to come by and raises the obvious question: was the council aware of the revisions before its members gave evidence? Was its evidence the result of extraordinarily incompetent research or did the council deliberately set out to mislead the committee?

Quite frankly, the council's evidence was a disgrace, coming as it did from a body which parades itself as an expert on the environment.

... After this clown-like performance, [the council] can no longer be considered a reasonable voice in this debate.

I would not go quite that far, Mr Speaker, but I would say that this question really is a very serious one, and I would ask the council to reconsider its policy of issuing releases as irresponsible as this.

MR CORBELL: My question is to the Minister for Land and Planning. It relates to the development of a licensed club at the Gungahlin Town Centre. Minister, can you confirm that the advice to the Gungahlin Development Authority that an enclosed oval was not viable was actually provided by private consultants Leisure Management Australia? Minister, can you also detail to the Assembly the nature of the advice that the GDA received from Leisure Management Australia that an enclosed oval was not viable at the Gungahlin Town Centre at this time, and can you confirm that this advice was actually received after expressions of interest had closed?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, in respect of the first part of the question, I think that the answer I gave before to Mr Whitecross's question addresses that issue. Last week when I was asked about this I told the Assembly that they received advice. I think I said it was legal advice. Whether that is the same advice they got from Leisure Australia I cannot say, but I will find out. Whether they received advice in addition to the legal advice I do not know. I will find out. Can I detail the advice given? No, I cannot. If you want such information, I would suggest that you put a question on notice and I will be able to find out for you. Mr Speaker, I will take that part of the question on notice and I will find out.

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