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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (5 March) . . Page.. 528 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

need to swallow about the way we responded to this fire. There are lessons there for us to learn, as there always are.

In retrospect, as we all know, we can do things better or differently-we could have responded in different ways. However, we make judgments at the time, for a whole range of reasons. I have no doubt that that will be the history of this inquiry.

I look forward to the inquiry-it is open. The ACT government, and all of its instrumentalities, will cooperate fully. All documents in the possession of the ACT government will be made available to Mr McLeod. All ACT government officials and officers will be made available to Mr McLeod and his inquiry.

Any member of the public who wishes to make a submission has been invited to participate. I have no doubt that they will be numerous. I have no doubt that many Canberrans will take the opportunity to be part of this vital first response by the government and by the people of the ACT to the bushfires. I look forward very much to that process.

As we all know, Mr McLeod is the immediate past Commonwealth and ACT ombudsman. He finished up in that position last Friday and commenced work as head of this inquiry on Monday of this week. I think that, in his period of stewardship as Commonwealth ombudsman and ACT ombudsman, Ron McLeod established a reputation for integrity, capacity and probity which is unmatched. The ACT government is incredibly lucky, as are the people of the ACT, that Mr McLeod has been able to accept the appointment as head of this vital inquiry into every aspect of the fires we suffered. I look forward to it being a full and well-supported process.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Chief Minister, since there will be no public hearings, which renders the McLeod review merely a whitewash, can you tell us what you are afraid of?

MR STANHOPE: That is an outrageous slur on Mr McLeod!

Mrs Dunne: No.

MR STANHOPE: Mr Smyth just said the inquiry will be nothing but a whitewash. According to Mr Smyth, the inquiry will be nothing but a whitewash. Tell me that that is not the most appalling slur on Mr McLeod.

Mr Pratt: It is not a slur on him-it is a slur on you blokes!

MR STANHOPE: The inquiry will be nothing but a whitewash!

Mr Hargreaves: How grubby!

MR STANHOPE: You are right, Mr Hargreaves-that is grubby.

Mr Pratt: It is a slur on you guys.

MR STANHOPE: No, it is a slur on Mr McLeod. Mr McLeod-who is a member of

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