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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3243 ..

MRS DUNNE (continuing):

While I am on my feet I will acknowledge that I seem to need to make a mea culpa; I seem to have got it wrong. I thought that this report was jointly funded by both the ACT taxpayers and the Institute of Sport. But if it is the case that it is solely funded by the ACT taxpayers, it more than strengthens my argument that the people of the ACT deserve the courtesy of being allowed to see what they have paid for. It was interesting to note that, in support of Ms Tucker's amendment, the minister said that we could not bring it forward now because he had come to an agreement with the Institute of Sport as to the timing of the release.

Mr Pratt took him to task over this and asked why he didn't tell us that yesterday in question time, to which Mr Corbell interjected that he did. I read from the draft Hansard from yesterday's question time when Mr Corbell said, "I'm quite happy to answer the question," which was the question that I had asked him about whether he would release the report. He went on to say a few rude things about me, which is par for the course, and then he said:

Mr Speaker, the government has considered all the issues raised both in the general consultation processes that have been held to date and in relation to the specific issues raised by Dr Fitch in his study.

The government will be announcing its response shortly and will be releasing full details of its response and will be releasing a full copy of the report.

That is all the minister said. He did not say yesterday that he had an agreement with the Institute of Sport. This is the first time that this piece of information has come to our attention. Irrespective of that, it is an agreement that should not have been made, because this is a report paid for by the people of the ACT-on an issue which has generated so much debate over so many years. This is a report that we have been holding out to see. This has been holding up the planning process, coming to this agreement with the Institute of Sport.

The people of the ACT deserve to see it now. It deserves to be scrutinised by their elected representatives. It should not be released out of session. It should be released now. That is why I cannot support, and the Liberals cannot support, Ms Tucker's amendment to this motion.

Question put:

That Ms Tucker's amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted-

Ayes, 8 Noes, 6

Mr Berry Mr Stanhope Mr Cornwell Mr Stefaniak

Mr Corbell Ms Tucker Ms Dundas

Ms Gallagher Mr Wood Mrs Dunne

Mr Hargreaves Mr Pratt

Ms MacDonald Mr Smyth

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