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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3636 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Mr Quinlan answered that I, the Chief Minister, was present at that point of the hearing. Although Mr Quinlan was correct in saying that I was present, he was wrong about what was discussed while I was there.

Since I was present on that occasion, I was provided with a transcript and asked to verify the words. From my examination of the transcript, at no stage did I or anyone else present at that hearing assert or affirm that the total cost of the TransACT rollout was any figure higher than $200 million, certainly not considerably higher than $200 million. The figure that was given to the committee, $233 million, which is obviously the figure Mr Quinlan is referring to, is an estimate of the total overall capital cost of the TransACT venture, not the specific rollout cost. I note at one point of the committee transcript that I even clarified this point for Mr Quinlan by stating that the figure of $233 million was the worth of the enterprise TransACT represents.

Mr Moore: Wasn't he listening?

MR HUMPHRIES: He was obviously not listening at the time. There was no mention of the rollout cost. The discussion was clearly about the total capital cost. Therefore, the answers which I gave to the Assembly this week and last week that I understand the rollout costs of TransACT to be approximately $200 million are correct. Until the TransACT rollout spreads more widely through the Canberra community, this estimate will remain.

I also want to confirm the effect of that advice by tabling a letter which I received today from Mr Perkins, the chief executive of Actew Corporation.

Mr Quinlan: Spontaneously sent.

MR HUMPHRIES: No. I sought this advice to clarify what it was Mr Quinlan was trying to say, to see whether in fact I had misunderstood what was being told to the committee while Mr Quinlan was present and chairing the meeting. I quote the letter:

Dear Chief Minister

This is to confirm my verbal advice that the estimated cost of TransACT infrastructure roll-out is of the order of $200 million. As referred to by Chairman, Jim Service, in the local media, the business plan is under review by the TransACT Board and there may well be variations up or down depending on any number of factors, including those mentioned in your draft statement.

I present the following paper:

TransACT infrastructure rollout-Copy of letter from Paul J Perkins, Chief Executive, ACTEW Corporation, to Mr Gary Humphries, Chief Minister, dated 29 August 2001.

Suggestions that I had in effect known that there was a rollout figure of $230 million and refused to answer a question to that effect or pretend that I did not know the answer to that effect are misleading allegations. In fact, the committee was properly advised at the time of the total capital cost of the venture, not the rollout cost. I would advise

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