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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 1955 ..

MR SPEAKER: The imputation is still the same. I do wish that everybody in this place would stop being childish. Withdraw, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: I withdraw any imputation. In my view, the information was incorrect. We have a situation which the Assembly can either accept or reject, but that is something which came out in the course of the Estimates Committee consideration of this issue. The fact is that one thing was said to the Assembly and another thing happened. The committee was advised that the dispute may have led to additional costs for the project, but these could not be quantified. The committee was advised that the additional costs would be handled within the overall budget for the site.

Another issue that was raised in the course of questions of the Chief Minister's Department was the use of the electronic mail system. I think it is important that the Government be pinged for politicisation of the Public Service. An officer decided that a very political press release from a member of this Assembly which criticised other members of this Assembly was appropriate for circulation to each officer in the Public Service. Of course, we know that officers who have computers in front of them have the obligation to ensure that any circulation that goes through the electronic mail system is drawn to the attention of any other public servant. The Government has acquiesced in this sort of thing happening and seems to pretend that it is not politicisation of the Public Service. Clearly it is. While ever those matters are allowed to continue, I think the Government should be properly criticised. I think I might come back to my comments in relation to the Estimates Committee a little later.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Debate interrupted.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR WHITECROSS: It is good to see you in such a happy mood, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: We will see whether that lasts this afternoon.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Stefaniak. LRM Australia has recommended a refurbishment of the Civic pool, which its sister company, Leisure Australia, manages. Minister, are you going to commit Government money to this work? If so, on what basis are you confident that LRM's inquiry into aquatic facilities was fair and unbiased? Minister, can you be confident that LRM Australia is not simply seeking to enhance the business opportunities of its sister company, Leisure Australia?

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