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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 12 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 3708 ..

MR SPEAKER: Order! This is question time, not a debate.

MR BERRY: Well, what direct contact has the Government or any of its agencies had with Project Coordination in the wake of the coroner's inquiry? What direct contact between the Government or its agencies has there been with Project Coordination to implement the coroner's report, or are you telling us that there has been no contact and we have done nothing?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I just cannot believe that Mr Berry believes that as Chief Minister I should be involved in contracts, in tenders.

Mr Berry: No, no, Mr Speaker. She is misrepresenting - - -

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, tell him to sit down and stop being - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! It is all right. The Chief Minister fully understands the question.

MS CARNELL: He made it quite clear that he was talking initially about me personally. I would say it is totally inappropriate for me or any Minister to be involved directly with anybody who applies for a tender that is advertised under our tender guidelines across government. It would be contrary to our tender guidelines. It would be contrary to best practice. I have to say that I am sure that Mr Stanhope's committee, which is looking at contracts and tenders, would view it very, very badly if any Minister got involved in that process. On the basis that Ministers do not get involved in tender processes, it would be totally inappropriate for me to know - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. I never asked any questions about tender processes. I asked about steps the Government has taken. None, it appears.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, you have asked your question. Sit down.

Mr Berry: She is not going to answer it, Ossie. Why don't you get your question in?

MR SPEAKER: Would you stop interjecting, Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: Sit down. She is not going to answer the question.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I understand that the head of my department has met with Project Coordination to discuss the issues, so Mr Berry is wrong again.

Mr Quinlan: But not berry wrong.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, are you going to just allow these people to continue to interject?

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