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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (1 September) . . Page.. 1633 ..

MR SMYTH: I thank the member for his question and for notice of the question. This is an interesting question. I have to say that the gentleman who has raised this issue is in some conflict with PALM and some matters are before the Supreme Court, so I will just go to the heart of the matter, which is that some leases have been issued before the Territory Plan and some have been issued since the Territory Plan. The claims which have been made appear to be based on a view that the definition under section 8 of the Land Act, which is contained within the Territory Plan, would override any inconsistent definitions in leases. This is incorrect. Section 8 of the Land Act requires that the Territory, including all Territory bodies and the AAT, must comply with the Territory Plan when deciding whether or not to consent to grant or vary crown leases or any other development approval. Neither the Territory Plan nor the parent Land Act operate to affect existing rights clearly expressed in an existing lease.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Can the Chief Minister confirm that a member of the three-person team which prepared the ACTTAB scoping review for the Government, Mr Ian Morison of Morisons Solicitors, is the same Ian Morison who was announced on Sunday as the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Canberra in the coming Federal election?

MS CARNELL: Yes, it is, Mr Speaker. Is it not good that the Liberal Party in Canberra has such capable and great candidates? Is it not wonderful that we have candidates who have shown their commitment? They have shown their - - -

Mr Corbell: I do not know how you can keep a straight face.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Corbell deserves an answer to his question.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I have to raise a point of order. When the Chief Minister has spoken today, she has had to speak over a wall of noise from the other side of the chamber. I would ask you as Speaker to exercise a little control over the behaviour of those opposite.

MR SPEAKER: I will be happy to ask the Chief Minister to terminate her reply. That is probably the most effective way.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I would rather somebody got named. Yes, Mr Ian Morison is the same person. I think it is very important to make the point that Ian Morison was not working for the ACT Government when he was part of the consortium that was involved in the ACTTAB report. Mr Morison was contracted by PKF themselves, with no knowledge of the Government. Do you know why, Mr Speaker? It is because he is very capable and because he runs a very, very successful business in this sort of area in the ACT. And guess what? He has the skills, Mr Speaker.

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