Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 2 Hansard (21 May) . . Page.. 483 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

If so, are they fully aware of the circumstances under which they may depart from open tendering processes and can they try better and different ways of acquiring things that the Government requires?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, Mr Kaine would be very well aware that for products, for government projects, for - - -

Mr Berry: Land deals.

MS CARNELL: Not for land deals, because that is a different proposal. What Mr Kaine is reading from does not take in land deals at all. Almost always we go to open tender for those sorts of things. For situations over $50,000, I think that is a very appropriate approach, Mr Speaker. Again, Mr Speaker, from a Government perspective, our job is to get the best outcomes for the people of the ACT, and that is the approach we will take. It is a general view of Cabinet that that is the approach that we will continue to take. As Mr Kaine said, this is not a government - it was the Opposition - that is fixated on processes. This Government will continue to focus on outcomes.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, with respect to the rural residential development at Hall, can the Chief Minister clarify what blocks of land the Government understood the Bolton family held leases for prior to 15 May 1998 and what were the terms of those leases?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, as I said earlier, when Mr Whitcombe came to see the Government, he came with three leases - actually, with the physical leases. If I try to remember the actual block numbers, I will certainly get them wrong; but, if you give me just a second, I will probably be able to do it. My understanding, Mr Speaker, was that they were - - -

Mr Berry: We are happy to have question time extended.

MR SPEAKER: Never mind; I am sure the Chief Minister will find the block numbers.

MS CARNELL: The block numbers were 629, 495 and, I think, 630. They were the three block numbers that Mr Whitcombe actually held the physical leases for, Mr Speaker. We were aware that these leases were held on a month-to-month basis, as I have said every day this week in this place; but we were also aware that the Boltons had been on this property for nearly 150 years and it was our view that, if we were to go down the path of any form of development, or of developing on the Hillview property, then it would be much better to do that with the cooperation of the Boltons and not have to go down the path of terminating leases, which, certainly, was in the power of the Government, and the Government was aware of that. But, fascinatingly and, I think, very appropriately, this side of the house will always, wherever possible, attempt to work with people who hold leases rather than just terminating them.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .