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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (25 August) . . Page.. 1301 ..


Ms Carnell: Whom did it go to?

Mr Humphries: To whom?

MR STANHOPE: It was an internal minute and it is in extremely precise detail. It was prepared two weeks after Mr Whitcombe made his proposal. It was prepared by that part of PALM which had responsibility for rural leases and management of metropolitan land. I presented this morning a minute prepared within the Office of Financial Management, part of the Chief Minister's Department, by Mr Leigh Osborne for, I believe, Mr Neil Morgan. Also indicating on it is Mr Steve Wallace. I do not know these gentlemen personally, but I believe they are all officers who were involved in this project. I believe Mr Neil Morgan is a senior officer of the Chief Minister's Department. I believe Mr Neil Morgan was intimately involved with the development of this proposal. This document states precisely, clearly and unequivocally that the Bolton lease had had blocks withdrawn from it by the Territory and that they had been reafforested. That was the knowledge within the Chief Minister's Department. There is also an indication, of course, that it was generally known within PALM and that it was generally known within the Department of Urban Services that the Bolton lease did not comprise the three blocks. This is revealed not in the minutes of the project's control group of 18 May but in a minute from Ms Annabelle Pegrum, as executive director, directly to the Chief Minister, through the executive director of the Office of Financial Management, Mr Lilley. It was seen by Mr Lilley. It was referred to the Minister on 18 May and was returned from the Chief Minister's office
on 21 May - - -

Ms Carnell: Yes, 18 May, this year.

MR STANHOPE: This year.

Ms Carnell: After the PA.

MR STANHOPE: It refers to knowledge in the past and indicates clearly, specifically, unequivocally and unambiguously that officers in PALM had been involved in discussions with Mr Whitcombe - - -

Ms Carnell: On what?

MR STANHOPE: About the tenure area of the Bolton property. The evidence is there. It is clear and it is unequivocal. That is the evidence that has been provided and that those on the other side do not wish to see.

Ms Carnell: There is any amount of evidence that Mr Whitcombe does not agree with that.

MR STANHOPE: They choose not to listen. They choose not to - - -


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