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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2751 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

With regard to the hospice, the costs, I understand, ended up being reasonably minimal because the patients were allocated beds in Calvary Hospital, and of course the staff transferred with the patients. I am not aware of any refurbishment that was done at Calvary Hospital with regard to those patients. I have dealt with child care, the hospice and the demolition. The demolition cost was $2m better than we anticipated. The child-care centres cost $85,000. I think they were all the matters raised.

MR CORBELL: I ask a supplementary question. I will refresh the Chief Minister's memory. The other two questions - will you take these on notice? - related to the extra costs of fire and emergency services and the extra cost of police services, including the cost of officers and divers involved in investigation of the aftermath as well as the cost of water police patrolling in the exclusion zone. Will you also provide us with details of the cost of the inquiries?

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, the Minister for Emergency Services - - -

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I have not finished my question.

Mrs Carnell: You cannot ask that bit, and then ask another one.

MR CORBELL: I have the call, Chief Minister, not you.

MR SPEAKER: Questions shall be brief, I might remind you. That is standing order 117(a).

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I have one last sentence. Is the Chief Minister planning to introduce a second Appropriation Bill to deal with these extra costs?

MRS CARNELL: Why would I bring in a second Appropriation Bill for the costs I have just spoken about, when we actually came in $2m under budget for the implosion? The Minister for Emergency Services indicates to me that the cost of police and emergency services personnel would be minimal, as it is part of their normal function. It is very hard to give a costing of an inquiry that has not finished. Am I supposed to have a crystal ball to determine how much longer it might take? I do not know how I could answer that. We certainly will be able to look at those issues when the inquiries are finished.

Mr Speaker, I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

MRS CARNELL: I would like to give some further information about various questions that I was asked in question time. I understand that the MOU with SOCOG cannot be released without the approval of SOCOG. It is subject to confidentiality agreements with SOCOG. Those opposite are close to the New South Wales Labor Government. Maybe they could help with that.

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