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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2677 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

At no stage did I ask you to make an immediate payment to the complainant. At absolutely no stage did I suggest that the government should not appeal against the decision. At no stage did I suggest that this was a caretaker matter. At no stage did I refuse to change my position. At no stage have I changed my position in relation to this matter. I explicitly advised you, on advice from the Government Solicitor, that it was not a matter covered by the caretaker conventions. This is a lie. "Humphries liar"-that is what the next press release will say.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, if you have ruled earlier that that is not parliamentary, then you should rule the same thing in respect of this matter.

MR SPEAKER: You will have to withdraw that, Chief Minister.

MR STANHOPE: I will withdraw that. I present the following papers:

"Stanhope Hypocrite"-Media Release from Gary Humphries, MLA, dated 21 August 2002.

Letters from Jon Stanhope, MLA, to Mr Gary Humphries, MLA, Chief Minister, dated 12 and 15 October 2001.

Letter from Gary Humphries, MLA, ACT Chief Minister, to Mr Jon Stanhope, MLA, Leader of the Opposition, dated 15 October 2001.

Mr Humphries: I seek leave under standing order 46 to make a personal explanation.

MR SPEAKER: Do you want to deal with it after question time? That has been the convention. I assume you are going to want to respond to that.

Mr Humphries: Yes.

MR SPEAKER: We will do that after question time.

Caswell Drive

MS TUCKER: My question is directed to the Minister for Planning, Simon Corbell, and relates to the duplication of Caswell Drive as part of the Gungahlin Drive extension. As you know, Mr Corbell, Aranda residents are very concerned about the impacts of this road, and some residents have proposed building a new road to the east of Caswell Drive, through Black Mountain reserve. As a result, there have been statements flying around about the ecological value, or lack of value, of this part of Black Mountain, and even comments from Liberal MLAs that people are more important than plants, and there is not even a discussion to be had.

Minister, you would be aware that, when plans were first made for the northern part of the Gungahlin Drive extension, the former Liberal government commissioned a preliminary assessment by Maunsell consultants to determine the best option for the road alignment. While we all have our opinions about the adequacy of that report, at least the process allowed for a detailed professional assessment of the route options and a structured opportunity for the public to be consulted.

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