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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 2 Hansard (1 March) . . Page.. 450 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

deal was done that the ACT Labor Government was underwriting a $25m loan to the joint venture, of which one of the partners was a $2 shelf company? When we asked for the contracts, what was the answer? Commercial-in-confidence.

What about my repeated questioning of the Labor Government on how much taxpayers' money was being paid by Canberra Milk to the Raiders as part of the sponsorship deal of the then Canberra Milk Raiders? What was the answer to that one? Commercial-in-confidence. All of those issues and many more have been part of this Assembly right from the beginning. We still do not know today many of the details with regard to those questions. We still do not know, for example, how much money did go from Canberra Milk to the Raiders to pay for naming rights.

Who could forget Mr Berry's strident defence of the confidentiality of the VITAB agreement, which led to his immortal statement:

There are plenty of examples littered through the debates of the past decade leading up to the recent episode relating to the Bruce Stadium hiring agreements. In that time a lot has been said but, until we acted, not much was done in the past. Unlike those opposite, who did not see any need when in office to do anything, for the past three years this Government has been developing and implementing a policy in relation to the handling of commercial information, particularly information which could be considered sensitive.

Some time ago we presented a discussion paper which arose, as some members will recall, out of concerns expressed about the amount of information provided in relation to business incentive arrangements. That discussion paper was subject to extensive consultation with the Assembly and the business community. It resulted, as Mr Hird has noted, in the release of a document known as "Principles and Guidelines for the Treatment of Commercial Information held by ACT Government Agencies".

Since February 1999, as part of the Government's policy to promote open and accountable processes across all its agencies, there has been an information campaign to inform Canberrans about the new requirements. A summary brochure pamphlet headed "Doing Business in the ACT" was produced and distributed throughout the business community. I think it is worth while tabling this brochure - which, I am sorry to disappoint Ms Tucker, is not particularly glossy - because some members may not realise just how far we have come in tackling this difficult issue. I table this document, Mr Speaker.

The brochure sets out neatly and concisely exactly what is expected of both the Government and other parties, and highlights the balance that needs to be struck in protecting commercial information against the right of the community to know what taxpayers' funds are being spent on. I understand that tomorrow Mr Moore will be tabling a Bill which goes to heart of this matter. It follows on from this consultation and puts the whole issue into legislation.

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