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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 100 ..
MR SMYTH (continuing):
immediately on coming to office, provide a site and demountable buildings for temporary child care facilities while the permanent child care centre is being constructed.
The statements Mr Corbell made earlier today are patently wrong. He can announce that there is $950,000 in the existing year's budget, because we put it there. That is a clear indication of our commitment to child care. The points made by Mr Cornwell clearly catch Mr Corbell out, and he should apologise.
We have been hearing the words "clear and unambiguous" and "honest and open". The first opportunity to demonstrate this was today was when Mrs Dunne asked Mr Corbell whether he would table some information from the honest and open government, yet the door was shut. We asked to see the document that confirmed the point I made before the election-that the promises to take back the release of land were going to cost the incoming Labor government something like $75 million a year. We now have that confirmation. It was denied before the election. We have a right as an Assembly to see that information. We pointed this out before the election. It was denied. It has now been confirmed that the government has advice that it will cost something like $75 million a year to service that land. I think it is fair and reasonable for us to see that advice.
My third point, Mr Speaker, relates to something you are interested in. I would like to quote from Hansard of 27 February. You said:
I look forward to the day when the government will attempt to convince us that it was a good move by CTEC. I think it will be a difficult battle for them.
We might recall what happened in the lead-up to the move by CTEC from the location in Civic to Brindabella Business Park at the airport. It culminated with the referral from this place of all the papers to the Auditor-General. I would like to put on the record for the attention of all the decision the Auditor-General's report brought to the Assembly today:
AUDIT OPINIONS
The Relocation of CTEC to the Brindabella Business Park
The decision to relocate to Brindabella Business Park was soundly based.
Disclosure of Interest Issues
No actual or apparent conflict of interest existed in relation to the CTEC Board Chairman. The Chairman did not fail to make proper disclosure in accordance with section 15 of the CTEC Act.
Although no actual conflict of interest situation existed, there was a public perception that a conflict of interest existed for the Chairman. The CTEC Board took reasonable steps to manage the perception.
Where does that perception come from? It might be good advice to all members here, but particularly the new members, that the things we say and do in this place influence what goes on out there. They are listened to by the press occasionally, and they are often reported. On page 6, in paragraph 1.13, the Auditor-General's report states:
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