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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (21 June) . . Page.. 2410 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

For the record, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has made its position very clear. We support the investment that is proposed to be made at the Lyneham tennis centre and we sincerely hope that it will proceed, but we will not resile from questioning the government's processes in approving such developments, nor will we shy away from criticising the inappropriate use, or should I say abuse, of ministerial vetoes such as the call-in power.

Mr Pat Torpy-Retirement

Mr Stephen Forshaw

MR HIRD (10.04): Mr Speaker, I am delighted to rise on this occasion to talk about two good friends. The first is Mr Pat Torpy, who has been with us for many years. I knew Pat when he was in the public service and drove for the then Minister Hayden, later to be Governor-General, doing so for 11 years. I must say that Pat has been a dedicated person, a good friend and very helpful not only to me as Government Whip, but also to other members and staff of the Assembly. Nothing has ever been a problem for Pat Torpy. For the Hansard record, Pat has the nickname Two Dogs, which is a story for another time. As the Government Whip, and I dare say I am speaking for the Opposition Whip as well, I would like to thank him sincerely for his friendship and for the service he has given to all members of the house. He has always been very friendly and of assistance to all of us.

I turn to the second person I would like to mention. When I came back into this place there was an ambitious, courageous and determined young fellow named Stephen Forshaw here. Mr Speaker, I note that Stephen is in the gallery today, having returned from new undertakings and new challenges in Sydney with an international airline, Singapore Airlines. I am delighted to see you here, Stephen. I would say that things must be going well for you because you have put on some weight. It is a delight to see you, Stephen, and I thank you for your friendship.

Williamsdale quarry

MR BERRY (10.06): In question time today, I indicated to the Chief Minister that I had not finished with the Williamsdale quarry issue yet. There is much more to come. Over the last five days I have asked a series of questions about the most appalling piece of management of a territory asset that I have come across since the Bruce Stadium redevelopment. The Chief Minister has refused to issue a direction to Williamsdale quarry not to sell any of the remaining 50 per cent. We are yet to discover whether the joint venturer has made the final $800,000 payment and, if so, whether the cheque has been cleared. Those are outstanding questions for the moment that have to be answered. There will be more questions about the Williamsdale quarry.

The Williamsdale quarry was secured by Totalcare as a territory asset and 50 per cent of that asset was sold off into a joint venture. It had the potential, according to the business case of Totalcare, to return tens of millions of dollars to the territory, both by way of savings to the capital works budget in the territory and by way of dividends to the territory from profits from that venture. It is the only quality, up-to-standard, hard rock quarry in the immediate region which can provide an adequate source of hard aggregate for things such as territory roads and construction concrete.. It is owned by the

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