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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (19 May) . . Page.. 329 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

who has worked extremely hard for the advancement of the Village. Harold has said that he will continue to represent the majority view of the residents of our village, particularly on this issue.

I understand there has been no commitment from the Government for this proposal to proceed.

How does Mr Hird reconcile those contrary views to those in the radio interview I quoted a little while ago?

MR HIRD: Once again, Mr Speaker, I submit that the supplementary question is referred to me as the local member, not as chairman of the committee. However, it is interesting to note that at the recent election the majority of voters in Hall identified that the Liberal Party had the best policies, because the majority of them voted for us. There are no hidden secrets as Mr Charlie Chuckles over there might think. He is always on about this hidden agenda and hidden secrets. There was no hidden secret that we would allow the majority of people in Hall to have a say and I certainly would have done that.

The question is: Did the letter that Mr Wood referred to have my signature on it? I doubt it because I do not recall signing such a document. But I would have been prepared to on the grounds that we on this side like to have public consultation, contrary to what those opposite did when they were in office. At least we listen and take action appropriately after we have weighed all sides of the arguments. We do it for the good of the community. They have gone silent on the other side of the chamber. I would ask this question, if I may, on the supplementary - - -

MR SPEAKER: No, you may not. You are answering a question, not asking one.

MR HIRD: Answering the question, why is it that the Territory Plan that was prepared under the Follett Government has a residential suburb known as Kinlyside encroaching on the village of Hall to its detriment? I ask you that. Were you listening?
No, you were not.

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, that was as good an answer as I have ever heard in this place. Mr Wood wanted a "Yes" or a "No" and Mr Hird gave us 10 minutes of that. I take my hat off to you, Harold. That is as good as I have heard.

My question is to the Chief Minister and it relates to competition policy, once again. As you are aware, the national competition policy was introduced by the former Keating Labor Government and subsequently ratified by the former Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, in 1994. The general purpose of the policy is that by 1 July this year all government-regulated and private sector monopolies will be open to a fair level of competition unless a measurable public benefit can be demonstrated. Recently, your Government gave up the Belconnen pool - I can see Mr Stefaniak cringing there -

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