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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 873 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

It is the role of the Assembly to protect our investment in ACTEW. In fact, that was a comment Mr Corbell made this morning. I would agree with that. It is our role to protect our investment in ACTEW. That is what we are doing. We are ensuring that our investment in ACTEW is protected and that ACTEW's capacity to grow into the future is guaranteed - as much as you can guarantee anything in life.

It has also been very interesting to hear a lot of comments about the role of the board versus the role of the Assembly. It has been interesting to hear those opposite suggest that we should be negotiating this whole deal here in the Assembly; that it should be we who determine whether the evaluation is right or wrong. I can just see us all saying, "I reckon a few pipes are worth something or other". We would be absolutely great at that! We would have all of the information at our fingertips to determine whether the evaluation of AGL's assets and ACTEW's assets was right! But those opposite seem to believe that we have that capacity in this place. That is the board's job. There is no doubt about that. It is not the Assembly's role, and nor should it be. It is not the shareholders' role, and nor should it be. It is the board's position.

The ACTEW board will negotiate the best deal possible with AGL. I have no doubt at all about the competence of Jim Service and his board to negotiate a very good commercial deal. When those opposite ask how you could possibly trust people in the Government to negotiate a good deal, I have to say that there is no way we will be negotiating a deal. It is the board's role, and that is the appropriate situation. It is important to remember what the responsibilities of the ACTEW board are. They have responsibilities under law to do the right thing by the shareholders. They have the skills to do that, and I have no doubt they will do it well.

Those opposite have asked us to put all of the figures on the table - the value of the assets, what the future profits will be, what the price lines will be and all sorts of things. They say they need the figures to make a decision. They will oppose it anyway.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hird): Order! If the gentlemen on my left wish to discuss matters, I ask them to use the lobby. Thank you.

Mr Berry: We would not have a quorum then.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Are you speaking to the chair, Mr Berry?

Mr Berry: We would not have a quorum.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Resume your seat. You know the protocols in this chamber, sir, better than I do.

Mr Moore: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, he has been warned.

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. Would you mind considering at some time in the future the allocation of those little protective devices for our ears when you are in the chair?

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