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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (25 August) . . Page.. 1206 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

Earlier on, in one of those other references that I quoted, the Chief Minister said that no members of the project team involved in the negotiations on the agreement were - - -

Ms Carnell: That is the senior officials.

MR STANHOPE: That is right. What do the records reveal? This is the moment I think you have been dreading. What did the FOI request reveal? What did the papers say? The papers tell us that on 25 August 1997 a Mr Steve Wallace in the Chief Minister's Department met with a Mr Neil Morgan in the Chief Minister's Department, and what do the minutes of that meeting reveal?

The Bolton family have an historic link and long term occupation of the Hillview property. Part of the property ... is currently leased on a monthly rental basis. The steep hilltop land has been taken over by the Territory for reafforestation.

Part of the land has been withdrawn. (Extension of time granted) The minutes continue:

It will be important that any contractual arrangements for the proposed development do not create any precedent for development rights for existing lessees or former owners. It is suggested that any remuneration flowing to the lessee should remain a private arrangement with the developer.

I believe it is Mr Morgan. It is addressed to "Neil" but I have no doubt it is Mr Morgan. The letter was marked to Mr Steve Wallace. It was written by Mr Leigh Osborne. I understand all are officers of the Chief Minister's Department. That was written on 25 August and it actually recognises - - -

Ms Carnell: Which year?

MR STANHOPE: In 1997, before 22 December 1997. It goes on and makes an interesting comment in relation to the Starr lease. Of course, the Starr lease was also relevant to Hall/Kinlyside, and I must say we in the Opposition have tended to neglect the importance of that in our questions. But that is not all, of course. Throughout this whole time it was obvious to almost everybody in PALM and it was obvious to almost everybody in Hall that the leases had been withdrawn. Minutes of a meeting between PALM and the Hall and District Progress Association are contained in a document dated 17 September and notated by Mr Tony Carmichael, whom I know to be an officer of PALM. The minutes say:

It was indicated by PALM that the Boltons have not sought an extended lease - the property is regarded as PALM property, and is on month-by-month tenure ... there could be no substantive change ...

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