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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2862 ..

MS CARNELL: It was not an assertion that I did not see it until we came to the house yesterday; it was the truth. I had not seen it and I think a number of my Ministers had not seen it either, probably for the same reason that a number of members had not picked up the comments of the DPP or others on their email this morning before they came into the house, or later on in the house. Often, you might just come into the house without doing that first. Anyway, we had not seen it before yesterday. I did read the document during the debate yesterday. Yes, if that is what paragraph 3.37 says, then I am sure it is in the document. Is that what the question was? I think it asked whether I am aware that that is what paragraph 3.37 says. If that is what it says, then that is what it says.

MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Given the committee's conclusion, which the Chief Minister has now just acknowledged that she has read, that the credibility of witnesses appearing before committees is not enhanced by discrepancies such as those that appeared in the evidence of the director of the Office of Financial Management, will the Chief Minister refer the issue of the evidence of the director of the Office of Financial Management to the Auditor-General for independent consideration and comment?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, you would have thought after yesterday that those opposite, particularly Mr Stanhope, who I have always thought was a cut above Mr Berry in terms of sleazy political approaches to things, would have laid off getting stuck into public servants by name in this situation. Mr Speaker, I have to tell you I am not going to answer questions that are about getting stuck into public servants. They are not acceptable in this place.

MR QUINLAN: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. The Government has provided considerable sums to support the Canberra Cosmos - direct grants, grants through Soccer Canberra, sponsorship by government enterprises and the underwriting of loans. Disappointingly, the Cosmos is yet to reward this public investment. In the latest shake-out, or in recent times, I understand that an officer of OFM has been appointed to the board which is chaired by Mr Ian Knop. Can the Minister say whether this is a great coincidence, or has the Government moved to have direct input to, or at least a monitoring role over, the Cosmos?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, it is interesting that the public servant involved in this question might be the same as the one in the first question. Is that a coincidence, Mr Speaker?

Mr Quinlan: It is not.

MS CARNELL: It is not? I am very pleased that it is not the same public servant. However, it is still a question about public servants. I have this view on public servants.

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