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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 2637 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: I have since had confirmation-

Mr Corbell: This is not an email.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, why do they ask a question if they do not want the answer?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Gentlemen of the opposition, I heard a comment about Yes, Minister. You are all being very courageous at the moment. I suggest you do not push your luck.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, my advice as of today is that my department made a more detailed and extensive search, locating the additional information subsequently provided to Mr Corbell. This included eight emails not on file as of 23 June 2000 as well as some information dated after the Estimates Committee request.

Mr Corbell, you might be surprised to learn that ministers do not actually-

Mr Corbell: What about this?

MR HUMPHRIES: Listen and you will find out, Mr Corbell. Ministers do not actually sit down and-

Mr Corbell: Has the department told you about that document?

MR HUMPHRIES: Would you wait, please. The department does not-

Mr Corbell: It is a pretty unconvincing argument to date.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Corbell! Would you mind listening to the answer. You may not like it but you should at least-

Mr Corbell: That goes without saying, Mr Speaker. There has to be a prize for it.

MR SPEAKER: You should at least give the Treasurer the courtesy of listening to the answer.

MR HUMPHRIES: Ministers do not personally maintain files. I do not have the department's files sitting in my office. I was advised, as of today, that the documents referred to were all the documents on file at the time. You say that is not the case; my advise is that it is. I will go back and ask my department about the document. I assume you are going to table it so we can see what document it is.

Mr Corbell: I am very happy to.

MR HUMPHRIES: I will find out whether there was a further document which was not tabled.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, would you like to table that document.

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