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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 4948 ..

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, we are negotiating with the parents. The problem we have is that - - -

Ms Tucker: To change the document?

MRS CARNELL: Yes. Absolutely. The negotiation is under way. As we have said, if people do not want to sign it that is fine. That is simply not an issue for us at all. Mr Speaker, the difficulty for the department is the sending out of a letter with a legal opinion, if that is what it is. Actually, what it does is list parents' concerns, and then there is a basic run-down of some reaction to that - - -

Ms Tucker: It lists legal concerns.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, there are real issues about the department distributing an opinion that they believe is wrong. Absolutely seriously, if you distribute an opinion that you believe is wrong, you give it a level of credibility that you do not believe is right. There is no problem with the parents, the carers, seeing this document, but it does not have any standing with regard to the department. It is that simple because the department simply does not agree with it.

Ms Tucker: Of course it does not. The agreement is the creature of the department.

MRS CARNELL: The department does not want to make problems for itself.

Ms Tucker: The department created the document.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MRS CARNELL: Obviously it does not. It wants a situation where everybody can agree on these sorts of things. There is nothing to stop parents and carers having copies of this letter, but not under the imprimatur of the department.

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, my question - I think it is the last of question time in this Assembly - is directed to the Minister for Planning, or for Police, whichever, and I will accept a written response if that is easier. Minister, what is planned as a substitute for the former police outpost in Garema Place that has been demolished, and what is the timetable for any new arrangements?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the police kiosk was demolished some weeks ago. It has been replaced with a shopfront police station in the building where Sammy's Kitchen is. It faces into Garema Place. It will be opened some time in the next three or four weeks, I understand.

Mrs Carnell: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper, and I would like to give some further information on some questions.

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