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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (19 May) . . Page.. 335 ..

Mr Humphries: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: The answer is the same for both questions, so it has been answered.

MR SPEAKER: In that case the question cannot be answered because it has already been answered.

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, with your indulgence I will proceed to a supplementary question, given that those opposite have joyfully sidestepped the issue. When did Mr Whitcombe withdraw from the preliminary agreement, and will the Chief Minister table the correspondence relevant to that withdrawal?

MS CARNELL: I understand that it is very hard writing new questions when you have one only. But, Mr Speaker, I have answered that the day the Government found out about the situation was Friday and the day that Mr Whitcombe pulled out was today. I am not sure what correspondence there is, as the meeting with Mr Whitcombe happened only today.

Mr Hargreaves: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The second half of the question was: Will the Chief Minister table the correspondence? Is the answer a yes or a no, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MS CARNELL: I answered that too.

MR KAINE: I address a question to the Minister for Urban Services. Minister, at the last meeting of the Assembly three weeks ago, on two consecutive days I asked you questions about the number of numberplates that have been issued with the new slogan on them. It seems to be a moving target. The first day you said it was about 70 per cent. The second day you said that 75 per cent had actually opted for the new plates. I want you to remember those words. The Canberra Times motoring editor, however, seems to have better information, because on 16 May he said that only 48 per cent of people have specifically requested not to have the new "power" plates. There is a big difference between approximately 50 per cent and 75 per cent. Are you now able to actually tell us how many sets of plates - and this is the question I asked you originally - have been issued since the new plates became available, how many sets actually contain the new slogan and how many do not contain the new slogan?

MR SMYTH: It is curious that what is not acknowledged in the question is that those figures do change over time and on each occasion I believe that I gave a date as to the number. As of today, 1,960 sets have been issued and 1,010 sets, or 52 per cent, carry the slogan. Doing some quick maths, 950 do not have the slogan.

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