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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 8 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2192 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, when did you find out that the timetable you gave the Assembly on 4 June, three weeks ago today, was the timetable with which you could no longer live?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I would have to check the details and advise Mr Humphries of that. But I have to make very clear the issues that this government faces, not least the very significant agenda being run by the Liberal Party here in Canberra, in concert with their federal colleagues, in a deliberate attempt to undermine and delay this government's capacity to deliver this road.

Mr Speaker, in a meeting I had last week with Mr Tuckey, the federal minister for territories, who is a colleague of these people, I asked him directly whether he was prepared to provide in-principle support for the west alignment provided all the issues raised by the AIS are satisfactorily addressed. I said to Mr Tuckey, "Are you prepared to give in-principle support for this alignment provided that all the concerns raised by the AIS are satisfactorily addressed?" And what did he say? He said, "No I can't." He said, "I can't do it." What does that mean, Mr Speaker? What is the Liberal Party's concern?

Mr Humphries: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: my question was when did he know that he couldn't live with the timetable he had advised the Assembly of three weeks ago. Could I have an answer to that question?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I have indicated to Mr Humphries that I will seek clarification on that and advise him. But this point needs to be made: what is it about this road that the opposition doesn't like, apart from the fact that the Labor Party is behind it? What is it about this drive that the Liberals don't like apart from the fact that it is Labor's preferred alignment? Mr Tuckey is not even prepared to give in-principle support for this alignment, even if all the concerns of the AIS are addressed.

So what does that say, Mr Speaker? What is says to me is very clear: that the Liberal Party is intent on undermining the provision of a key piece of infrastructure for the residents of Gungahlin, and they should be ashamed of themselves. If they had any clout on this issue with their federal colleagues, they would be exercising it. Instead, they are simply manipulating this to get the political outcome they want.

Mrs Dunne: No, we want the road.

Gungahlin Drive extension

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, if I have to I will shout over those gabbling turkeys over there as well. Mr Speaker, my question, through you, as always, is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister tell the Assembly about the costing details for the Gungahlin Drive extension, and how can this compare to the Liberal's claims to be able to build four lanes for $32 million?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker-

Mrs Dunne: That was your promise as well. You promised to do it on budget and you have broken your promise.

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