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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2186 ..

ACTEW Review

MR BERRY: My question is to Mrs Carnell in her capacity as Chief Minister. Chief Minister, I refer to the consultancy through which you have employed Fay Richwhite and Associates to do a study of ACTEW. Yesterday, in answer to Mr Corbell's question about Fay Richwhite and Associates, you stated that you were happy to employ them and that they are "of very good standing". Are you aware that Fay Richwhite and Associates were found to be in contempt of the Davidson Commission in New Zealand - a commission which was investigating the Cook Island tax scams - and fined $15,000 for spying on the head of the New Zealand First Party, Winston Peters, while he was giving evidence to this inquiry? Chief Minister, are firms who hold the law in contempt and sneak around filming politicians who are giving evidence at commissions of very good standing?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I say, again: Mr Berry, walk outside of here and say that.

Mr Berry: Are you aware?

MRS CARNELL: No; walk outside and say that.

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked the Chief Minister was she aware.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, Fay Richwhite and Associates have been operating in Australia since 1983.

Mr Berry: No, she is not aware. She never even bothered to do probity checks.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MRS CARNELL: For the majority of this period, Mr Speaker, Fay Richwhite's activities in Australia have been dominated by its capital market operations, including raising funds on the debt and equity markets and securities trading. Up until 1995 the firm had been an authorised dealer to the Reserve Bank of Australia - - -

Mr Berry: What is the relevance of this, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, the relevance of this is that until 1995 the firm was an authorised dealer to the Reserve Bank of Australia and a marketer of all government - - -

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