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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2345 ..
Mr Stanhope: That is what Hansard records, Minister.
MR HUMPHRIES: I have not seen the Hansard. I will be happy to study the Hansard and convey my understanding of what has taken place. Mr Speaker, my understanding was as I conveyed to the Assembly yesterday.
MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Given that the Chief Minister also told the Estimates Committee on 21 July that the Government's intention was that the caretaker period should apply while the scoping study was examining ACTEW, does the Acting Chief Minister still think, as he said yesterday, that the period should be maintained until the Assembly has made a decision on the Government's proposal to sell ACTEW?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, it is not up to me to change arrangements that have been entered into already with ACTEW. They were put in place by the Chief Minister prior to her departure. They were, as I understand it, discussed and agreed with ACTEW. I attended a meeting of the ACTEW board - I think their AGM - in the last six weeks or so. My understanding about that arrangement was clear to the - - -
Mr Stanhope: What is the actual arrangement, though? That is what we want to know.
MR HUMPHRIES: As I have indicated to you already, Mr Stanhope, in the Assembly, in my answer yesterday.
Mr Stanhope: But your indication is not the same as the Chief Minister's - - -
MR SPEAKER: Maybe not, but never mind. Mr Humphries is answering the question as he wishes.
MR HUMPHRIES: That is Mr Stanhope's assertion. I am not sure that is the case at this stage, but I intend, as I say, to check what the Chief Minister said to the Estimates Committee to see whether there is any difference in view. You will forgive me for being slightly sceptical about what is related to me by the Opposition rather than what I actually see by looking at the Hansard for myself.
MS TUCKER: My question is directed to the Acting Chief Minister, Mr Humphries, and relates to the Government's privatisation plans. The Government has already proposed the sale of ACTTAB and is currently attempting to sell ACTEW. Both of these organisations are Territory-owned corporations. Another Territory-owned corporation is Totalcare, which provides a range of services to the ACT Government, which some could argue could equally be supplied by the private sector. I also note that Totalcare has been trading profitably for a number of years now. Can you advise the Assembly whether the Government has any plans to privatise Totalcare?
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