Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1309 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

proposal was well thought out, well proposed and it was very clear what they were proposing to do, the electorate rejected it. Get used to it-the electorate rejected your proposal. Mr Speaker, it is very clear-

Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I stand to disrupt the minister's attempted answer because I would like a viable answer to Mr Pratt's question. That is the difference. We could have asked about why we lost the election but we asked about disruption versus viability. You, Mr Speaker, have the power to direct him to answer the question, should you so chose to do so.

MR SPEAKER: No, I can direct him to sit down. But if you want to keep pressing that he give you more information, I am happy to let him do so.

Mr Quinlan: Mr Speaker, on that point of order: can I just suggest to the Assembly that Mr Smyth was misusing the word "viable".

Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, if I was misusing the word "viable" then Mr Quinlan agrees that it is not a viable answer to Mr Pratt's question, and I thank him for his vote of support. I would ask you to direct the minister to answer the question.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, theatre is not your best point.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, all I can say is that the previous electorate felt that Mr Smyth, as a party minister, was disruptive and they decided he was no longer viable.

Quite clearly, issues surrounding the development of the Gungahlin Drive extension are under close consideration by the government. We have given a commitment that we will not see any disruption to the operation of the world cup, we have given a commitment to ensure that there will not be any impact on the viability of the world cup and we stand by those commitments.

MR PRATT: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. What impact will this uncertainty have on the government's efforts to attract more world cup matches to Canberra, including a Wallabies match? Will there be no disruption? What about the viability? What uncertainty will this have?

MR CORBELL: Mr Pratt, you have to listen to my answer. Just listen to my answer. Mr Pratt talks about disruption and viability. I just made it very clear-and I don't care what word you use-that we are committed to the world cup, that we are committed to making sure that the world cup happens in Canberra, and it is a pity that those opposite have decided to talk down the prospects of those sorts of world cup operations in Canberra.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .