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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 345 ..

MR STANHOPE: Well, what did you discuss out at Bungendore? When you came back and made your mea culpa there was no apology for the hospital implosion, there was no apology for Bruce Stadium. We know why you lost the election. You lost the election because you refused to accept responsibility for the major disasters for which you were associated, namely Bruce Stadium and the hospital implosion, Hall-Kinlyside and the rest.

Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: again, the Chief Minister, in avoiding answering the question about his negotiations with his public servants, is wandering all through the political history of the Assembly. You might direct him to answer the question.

MR SPEAKER: We would not want to wander through the political history of the Assembly. Chief Minister, would you come to the point.

MR STANHOPE: The question was why did I have regard for the interests of public servants, and the words "public servant" are spat out because we know of the contempt with which the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Party treat public servants. So the question indeed was: on what basis did I have the temerity to support the rights of public servants? How dare I assume that public servants are people; how dare I assume that public servants have rights. That was the question. Well, I do think that public servants have rights and I am prepared to defend their rights.

Mrs Dunne: Over the privilege of parliament.

MR STANHOPE: Oh, so the public servants are expendable, are they?

MR SPEAKER: You will get your chance in a minute, Mrs Dunne.

MR STANHOPE: That is right. We have got it all here now. Why don't you all join in? Why don't you all actually give us the chorus of your contempt for the ACT public service? I think there is probably not a public servant in the ACT, amongst those who survived your seven years, that has any respect or regard for you. But I think you are delivery the coup de grace here. I do support the rights of public servants and I will continue to do so.

ACTTAB

MS TUCKER: My question is directed to the Treasurer, Mr Quinlan. Treasurer, last December I asked you a question relating to the proposed move by ACTTAB to a new building that is yet to be constructed in Bruce. I asked you what contractual arrangement existed between ACTTAB and Hindmarsh, the developer, and whether ACTTAB could withdraw from that contract and move elsewhere. Unfortunately, your answer at the time was vague.

I assume that you have since had further discussions with ACTTAB about this matter and are aware of continuing concerns of Bruce residents and the current AAT appeal against the development approval. Can you now tell the Assembly the specific conditions under which ACTTAB can withdraw from that agreement and whether ACTTAB has

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