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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 1023 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
what is going on and nobody but nobody knows anything about it until budget day. That is a most unacceptable view, and it is one I believe will ultimately die in the Australian political context.
Urban development document
MR CORBELL: My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. Minister, the ACT Industrial Land Policy Review 2000-Discussion paper, available on PALM's web site, on pages 2 and 7 refers to many reports. One of these reports is the Urban Development Program 2000-2010. Earlier this year, in February, a PALM staff member refused a verbal request from one of my constituents for a copy of that document, stating, "It is not a public document." Why is the Urban Development Program 2000-2010, a document highlighted in the public discussion paper, not available for public scrutiny?
MR SMYTH: I thank the member for his question. I am not aware why the document would not be a public document, particularly if it is listed on the PALM web site. Neither am I aware of the circumstances in which Mr Corbell's constituent asked the question of the PALM officer. All I can say is that when documents are posted on the web we need to look at what their status is and make sure that if they should be available to the public they are available. I am happy to get the details of Mr Corbell's constituent and look into the matter for him.
MR CORBELL: Minister, will you table a copy of the Urban Development Program 2000-2010 for the information of members of the Assembly?
MR SMYTH: Again, I am not aware of the status of the document at this time. I will check on the status of the document. If it is appropriate to table it, of course it will be tabled. That is why many documents such as this are posted to the web-for the info of the public. They should be made available if we are free to do so. I will check for the member and certainly table the document if appropriate.
Australian International Hotel School
MR OSBORNE: My question to the Chief Minister is about the Australian International Hotel School. I think, in part, I know the answer-I have just found it-but I will still ask the question. Reading through the Auditor-General's report No 1 of 2001, I looked at the significant findings he made in relation to the hotel school. I will read them:
The AIHS incurred a loss of $2.3m in 1999-2000. Accumulated losses at 30 June 2000 were $19.0;
That obviously does not take into account the $30 million the government wrote off. The Auditor-General also said:
The School incurred an unrealised foreign exchange loss of $90,708 on the Cornell establishment fee during the year;
The AIHS is not likely to be profitable in the short or medium term. There is little expectancy of longer term profitability; and
Borrowings from the Central Financing Unit were 6.3m at 30 June 2000.
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