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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2667 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The government has asked ACTTAB to investigate an alternative site at Gungahlin. The government's long-term commitment to provide for the needs of the Gungahlin community has been matched by a commitment to consider the movement of major government offices into Gungahlin if that is convenient and appropriate.

The potential problem with the relocation of ACTTAB to Gungahlin is a technical one to do with the lack, apparently, of telecommunications capacity and the lack of back-up lines in the event, for example, that a telephone line carrying ACTTAB customer calls was to be cut accidentally. The need for those alternatives, those back-ups, is the potential issue which may prevent ACTTAB from moving to Gungahlin. I emphasise that this decision is yet to be made, and it will be made only in light of the full evidence about the technical appropriateness of the move.

I understand that there is an arrangement being negotiated with John Hindmarsh Pty Ltd which involves consideration of the sale of the site at Dickson and an arrangement entered into for either the purchase or the leasing of a site at Fern Hill, a site which I think John Hindmarsh Pty Ltd owns or has some kind of interest in. I do not have at hand the details of that. I am happy to obtain them for Mr Stanhope. I indicate that that matter has been extensively canvassed by the ACTTAB board and it will need to be approved by the government before any decision is made to relocate to either a site in Gungahlin or one at Fern Hill.

MR STANHOPE: If, as the Chief Minister has just indicated, the only decision that has been made is one to explore options and there has not been a decision at all by the ACTTAB board in relation to this, can he explain why lawyers for ACTTAB and lawyers for John Hindmarsh (ACT) were finalising a heads of agreement document as early as April 2001 for the Fern Hill Park site? If that work has been lately terminated, how much has it cost ACTTAB to date?

MR HUMPHRIES: With respect, Mr Stanhope, you did not hear my answer to your question. I said they were exploring options for moving. I said they had reached an agreement with John Hindmarsh Pty Ltd based on certain contingencies. As I said, I will get you the details of that arrangement. The arrangement includes the possibility of a move to Fern Hill. No decision has been made and no contract has been signed committing ACTTAB to move to Fern Hill. As I said, the issue of where they move to and whether in fact they proceed with an arrangement with John Hindmarsh Pty Ltd at all is a matter for further discussion and involvement by the government. As I said, Mr Speaker, our priority would be, if it is technically possible, to locate that headquarters for ACTTAB at Gungahlin.

It is not surprising that lawyers should be involved in drawing up those agreements. It is appropriate and prudent to have lawyers involved in preparing such matters.

Mr Quinlan: Just in case.

MR HUMPHRIES: Indeed, just in case. They are exploring a potential commercial relationship. It is quite natural and obvious that they would do that. Mr Speaker, the other point is that ACTTAB is an authority with the capacity to make a decision for itself on this matter. The government does not have to vet or approve its negotiations with other parties. If they have seen fit to instruct lawyers then that is their lookout. It is their

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