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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 4018 ..

Mr Whitecross (continuing):

Canberra Cosmos, whose president, coincidentally, is Mr Ian Knop? Can you explain what interest Australian Water Services might have in raising their profile in the ACT? Does it have anything to do with the Water Resources Bill, which provides for the sale of allocations of Canberra water on a commercial basis?

MR SPEAKER: It is all right. We have got it now.

Mr Whitecross: Okay. As long as you answer all parts of the question.

MRS CARNELL: Okay. The answer to the first bit is, actually, no, I was not aware that AWS was providing advertising or something for the Cosmos. I do not actually read all the signs when I am there, I have to tell you. No, I was not aware; but I am very pleased they do, because every single sponsor that the Cosmos have got they need and I have to say that any company that is willing to come into the ACT and support our sporting teams is a company that I would think was doing a very good job for Canberra, particularly as the Cosmos have had a pretty tough time. I think that is a very big tick for Australian Water Services, and I am very pleased about that.

With regard to why they would want to increase their profile in the ACT, I would imagine that, as an Australia-wide company, they are interested in lifting their profile everywhere. As to the other hypothetical questions, I do not think there is anything whatsoever to do with the water Bill, as far as I can tell. The rest of the question was about policy in the future. Certainly, we have no plans to sell ACTEW's water or our water, electricity or anything else, really.

MR WHITECROSS: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Mrs Carnell did not actually answer all parts of my question, but my supplementary question is: Is it not the case, Chief Minister, that Australian Water Services were willing to help you out by doing you a favour and employing your former Deputy Chief Minister, Tony De Domenico, by giving him a job to build favour in the Government for their program to enter the Canberra water market?

MR SPEAKER: There is a clear imputation in that and, I am afraid, a question cannot contain imputations.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, in terms of absolute grubby approaches, it is, to start with, I think, an absolute put down for Mr De Domenico. Are those opposite suggesting that Mr De Domenico could not get a job in the private sector if it was not for somebody doing a favour? I do not accept that at all. I think that is an unacceptable comment about Mr De Domenico. It is not true to suggest that AWS did some sort of deal with the Government. AWS has done no deals with the ACT Government with regard to Mr De Domenico or, I do not think, anything else; but certainly not with regard to Mr De Domenico - end of deal.

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