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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 2660 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

of the information that they received over the last couple of days. In particular, I think they need to come to terms with the fact that we have not necessarily realised in this joint venture all of the promise that was made. We only have a partnership.

There are some genuine problems with having only a partnership in place. Glossy and glowing promises were made about what ACTEW might do in terms of growth on the national front. I think commonsense will dictate that they will not be realised at the same magnitude, at least, that could have been inferred from what has been said in this place, particularly by the Chief Minister.

However, the officers who were involved in the process have to be congratulated on the job they have done within the constraints of the decision that was taken. It is by no means the fault of anybody who has been directly involved in this that the rosy promises will not be realised. It is in no way their fault that in the future the loss of control of ACTEW altogether, or at least the electricity supply in the ACT, remains a distinct possibility, if not probability, as a function of where we have landed today.

We have ameliorated, I think, at a fairly heavy price, some of the risk to which ACTEW was exposed. We have not taken the optimum option that was offered by AGL, for whatever reasons. That may never really be explained, or never be conceded, at least, within this place.

I do want to thank the other members of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, you, Mr Speaker, and Mr Kaine. This was not an easy task. This job involved getting one's head around a lot of information at a fairly cracking pace. Literally legions of lawyers, financial advisers and accountants were involved in the process.

As the detail panned out, it was no simple matter to understand, comprehend and assimilate the information that came forward. I think the committee as a whole has done a very creditable job.

I would also like to thank successive secretaries of the committee, Mr Bill Symington, who has now moved on from this place, and Ms Judith Henderson, for the support they gave the committee and for the timely preparation of papers, particularly the timely preparation of correspondence that was necessary for us to prepare in very short time in order that we remained abreast of the project as it unfolded. It is to the credit of the committee that it has, quite clearly, played a role in the accountability for this process, and I think it has had a clear and direct influence for the better on the final product.

I commend this report to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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