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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (6 September) . . Page.. 2927 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

It then said:

There's no need for any further delay...How long does it take? How many more studies and consultancies have to be undertaken?

Mr Humphries: Or inquiries.

MS CARNELL: Or inquiries. Mr Speaker, we agree. That is why I was absolutely amazed, Mr Speaker, when last night on my desk I saw this media release headed "Labor initiates VFT probity inquiry". It says:

Labor has initiated a Senate probity inquiry-

Mr Humphries: Shame.

Mr Stanhope: They have heard that you have something to do with it.

Mr Quinlan: You and John Walker. John Walker's figures. Tell us about them.

Mr Hird: Johnny has done it again.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Order, please, from both sides. I cannot hear the Chief Minister.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, the press release said:

Labor has initiated a Senate probity inquiry into the proposed Sydney to Canberra Very Fast Train project to establish that:-

this is really important, taking into account the interjections opposite-

the selection process was fair and equitable; all bids were assessed against the same criteria, including the issue of no net cost to government; and any changes to the scope of the project following the conclusion of the selection process would not have changed the outcome of the process if they had been made originally.

This is nothing to do with the Macquarie report, Mr Speaker. That is not even in the Senate inquiry. Mr Speaker, the press release goes on to say:

The alternative bidders for the project have expressed some concern about the scope of the original tender and the decision-making process.

Mr Speaker, the decision-making process was made by the New South Wales Labor government, the ACT government and the federal government. If Mr Ferguson and the Labor Party, those opposite, actually believe there was a problem, why didn't they go and speak to Mr Carr? Going back to Mr Stanhope's press release, it is interesting that he said this:

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