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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (25 August) . . Page.. 1223 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

the genuine aspirants, and it suffered because some of those idiots were actually elected and participated in government. It has struggled to establish credibility in the eyes of the ACT public. It must set itself the highest of standards and it must achieve and maintain those standards.

The whole Kinlyside affair is a grubby episode. It confers little credit on anybody, but it still must be faced squarely. It is a type of affair that I did not envisage having to address in this place, but I have no choice and neither does this Assembly. It cannot be ignored. The perception held by the public is all-important. Not only are we duty-bound to maintain standards of a civilised parliament but also we must ensure that people know and see exactly what we are doing. When I ultimately go from this place, I hope and trust there will be a little less distrust and less cynicism out there in the electorate. I believe one of the threats to good government in Australia right now is the rise of cynicism and disenchantment. If you look around, you can observe the consequences across Australia. I do not think I have to labour that point at this moment.

The censure motion is not merely a slap on the wrist, as some members may choose to describe it. (Extension of time granted) This censure motion is a pronouncement of the fact that this parliament, as should every other, will not tolerate Ministers who mislead it, whether consciously or recklessly, and a reaffirmation of the fundamental principle of truth, honesty and accountability in government.

We in opposition were derided somewhat for continuing to question the Government on its dealings in Kinlyside. We were told it was a dead issue, we should move on. But my colleagues Mr Stanhope, and Mr Corbell particularly, were scoffed at for the one specific issue relating to development because the Chief Minister was getting a bit sick and tired of it. I am glad we persisted because through our persistence we have both Ms Carnell and Mr Humphries making ministerial statements saying they misled, albeit inadvertently. That is their cop-out.

Mr Humphries: It is true. It happens to be true.

MR QUINLAN: Rubbish! I am also glad we persisted because I do not believe that the people deserve less, because there is an extremely important point to be made here. Kinlyside may not be important in itself to the people of Canberra but probity, due process, truthfulness, accountability and the integrity of government are very important, and that is what is vital in this debate.

So, members of the crossbenches, I seek your support for this motion. The evidence already put, and that to come, clearly demonstrates that the Assembly was misled on the origins of the Kinlyside project and on its cancellation. You surely cannot accept the extraordinary coincidences that are the Government's only defence. You must know that you have been misled by the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister on how this fiasco started and why it was dropped like a hot brick. Sure, we can make mistakes mixing "block" and "lease", but when we all do it together and it just happens to be a convenient response to questions asked in this place it is, at minimum, reckless. I seek your support and I challenge any of the crossbenchers who may be disposed to supporting the Government to stand in this Assembly and refute the case that has been made.

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