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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (25 August) . . Page.. 1294 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

It was only when they were caught out, it was only when they realised that the three leases did not exist, that they admitted they had made a mistake. After making the argument for three months, with 21 questions in this place and numerous questions in the Estimates Committee, they were suddenly put on the spot and they could not justify the existence of those three leases, because those three leases did not exist.

What does this debate come down to, Mr Speaker? It comes down to the fact that we are asked to believe that a planning Minister, a former Planning Minister and a Chief Minister do not understand the difference between a block and a lease. Can you believe that? Do you think the people of Canberra can believe that? Do you think the people of Canberra can have confidence in the planning processes of this place? (Extension of time granted) Mr Speaker, can the Canberra community seriously believe a government and have confidence in a government charged with administering planning processes in this Territory when the Minister for planning and the former Minister for Planning both say they do not understand the difference between a block and a lease? Can the Canberra community believe in a government that says, "We just read what is put in front of us."? Can we believe that? No, I am sorry, Mr Speaker, this Opposition cannot believe it. We cannot believe it at all. Quite clearly, this issue is something that cannot be ignored.

Mr Speaker, thanks to my very efficient and effective staff - and we have them over here as well - I have had some work done on the issue of development in the Hall district. There was a letter to Mr Humphries from Mr Bill Kearney. Mr Humphries has said that in his letter to Mr Kearney he was simply answering questions that Mr Kearney asked him, and that did not indicate his full knowledge of the status of the land. Let us have a look at what Mr Kearney asked Mr Humphries. Mr Kearney asked four things. First of all, he asked about the status of all rural leases bounding the Hall village. I emphasise: All leases. He asked about the status of the lease of the Bolton farm - Hillview. He also asked about options available to the Government with regard to that block of land - Hillview. And he asked about the intentions of the Government regarding that block of land.

Mr Speaker, that is very different from what Mr Humphries has said in this place. That letter was dated 27 July. Mr Humphries has stood up in this place and said that the document that he sent to Mr Kearney did not tell the full story about leases because he was only answering the questions that Mr Kearney asked him. Mr Kearney asked him about the status of all rural leases bounding the Hall village. I repeat: All of them.

Mr Humphries: It is not in the Hall village.

Ms Carnell: It is not in the Hall village.

MR CORBELL: Bounding the Hall village. Not the Hall village; bounding the Hall village, Mr Humphries.

Mr Humphries: Some of these do not bound the Hall village.

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