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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (4 May) . . Page.. 1303 ..

MR QUINLAN: There has to be a crowd-puller there somewhere. As the Chief Minister is aware, I have asked on a number of occasions for a copy of the business plan and have been refused because, I think the answer is, the Chief Minister does not think that it is appropriate, so it looks like I am going to get it from the Canberra Times. Can you advise the Assembly if those figures are indicative of the figures incorporated into the business plan, based on a consultancy report? Of course, you can let us know whether that consultancy report was independent.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I have actually offered Mr Quinlan a confidential briefing on the business plan. In fact, I have offered it to him on the same basis as the briefing we gave to Mr Whitecross when he was here. That confidential briefing was not based upon Mr Whitecross not continuing to ask questions of the Government and not continuing to do what certainly this Opposition does all the time, that is, oppose. But it was, Mr Speaker, a confidential briefing that Mr Whitecross took on board and he behaved, I have to say, very responsibly. The same offer has been given to Mr Quinlan. He, at this stage, has not taken it up. Mr Speaker, I cannot help it if Mr Quinlan does not take up the offer of a confidential briefing. What it shows - - -

Mr Corbell: Answer the question. It is a question in the parliament. What a cop-out!

MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, the Chief Minister is quite properly responding to an inference that was made by Mr Quinlan. I have no doubt that she will get to the rest of the question in due course.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am happy to continue when those opposite are quiet.

MR SPEAKER: Indeed, Chief Minister.

MS CARNELL: Thank you. Mr Speaker, I have no idea where the numbers came from in the Canberra Times this morning, but I can certainly guarantee that they did not come from the business plan that Mr Quinlan, if he took up the offer of a confidential briefing, would know about. Mr Speaker, the business plan was prepared by an independent organisation.

MR SPEAKER: Do you have a supplementary question, Mr Quinlan?

MR QUINLAN: Yes, Mr Speaker. Can the Chief Minister advise, if those figures were in any way indicative of the business plan, what the impact would be eventually on the ratepayer, taxpayer, of the ACT?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, is it not sad that people opposite cannot change their supplementary questions? I just answered the question by saying that the figures are not indicative. I suppose it shows a lack of capacity to think on their feet. Mr Speaker, I have said but again that the figures are certainly not indicative of the business plan. Mr Quinlan could have a confidential briefing, as could any of those opposite, on the business plan at any time he likes.

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