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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 6 Hansard (14 June) . . Page.. 1734 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

So thank you, Ms Tucker, we are aware of the problem and we are working through it, and they certainly will be contacted so that they are aware of what will be occurring. The scheme, as you know, comes into place at the start of September.

Williamsdale quarry

MR BERRY: My question is addressed to the Chief Minister and it relates to the Williamsdale quarry. Chief Minister, in the direction you signed to Totalcare, a couple of companies were mentioned-from memory, one was CSR and the other was Mitchell Mini-Mix-as being considered then as joint venturers. Pavement Salvage ended up being the joint venturer, but I raise those other companies because they, along with many others, will be buying product from the Williamsdale quarry.

Chief Minister, would you assure the house that each grade of product sold from the Williamsdale quarry is sold at the same rate to all purchasers?

MR HUMPHRIES: No, I do not think I can, Mr Speaker. I honestly do not know what they are selling the product for and I have no idea whether they would choose to sell at different rates to different people for various reasons. I would imagine that everybody who is in business chooses to sell at different rates at different times, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you want to attract customers with a discounted price on the product, or you may have a relationship with somebody who is a large purchaser and, because of the volume, they get a lower price. So I am afraid I cannot, and nor will I make any direction to Totalcare to take into account any supposed need to make sure that everyone is paying exactly the same price.

MR BERRY: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Chief Minister assure this house that nobody gets product from the quarry cheaper than Totalcare and inform this house about any rebate scheme that exists in respect of certain purchasers, and the reasons for these rebates?

MR HUMPHRIES: If Mr Berry wanted this information, he should have put the question on notice. I do not know whether there are rebate schemes or not. Believe it or not, the government does not sit down and approve the price of each load of stone that comes out of Williamsdale quarry.

Mr Berry: Don't you know what goes on there? It has been a matter of interest.

MR HUMPHRIES: To you only, Mr Berry, I am afraid. You alone, apparently, are the person to whom it is of interest.

Mr Stanhope: Don't you get a briefing?

MR HUMPHRIES: Not at that level, Mr Stanhope. If you see these volumes that come down in our hands and you imagine that we have details in there about the price of-

Mr Berry: Take it on notice then. Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The minister has indicated that he is prepared to take some of it on notice.

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