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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (6 March) . . Page.. 630 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

to a whitewash. You are proceeding along the same line today in relation to these questions from unnamed sources about decisions which may or may not have been taken.

I cannot say whether or not the allegations you make in your question, the allegations you made in the speech on your motion yesterday the allegations or suggestions Mr Cornwell made in relation to aircraft are true. I do not know.

Mr Smyth: When are we going to find out?

MR STANHOPE: We are going to find out through the McLeod inquiry and through a coronial inquest, both of which are currently running.

For the sake of completeness, rather than restrict ourselves to the example Mr Smyth raises in his question, I might go to the full list of questions he asked yesterday in his speech. I quote Mr Smyth. He said, "Why were the Harden units turned back? What happened to the Yass units? Why was there a convoy siting outside Hall? Why were the Bombala units, when they were offered late in the day, not accepted? Why were Batemans Bay units turned back when they got to the roundabout as they were coming up the Clyde?

Mr Cornwell asked about fixed-wing aircraft from Jindabyne to Lithgow not being accepted, and local fixed-wing aircraft not being used. These are all vague assertions-a vague list of questions with no relevant details. We can do nothing about them because they raise concerns about the capacity of those who managed or directed the firefighting effort in the ACT. That is what they are designed to do, and that is what they do.

As I said, I have no idea what the answer to these queries might be. If any of the instances mentioned were really the product of mistakes or poor decisions, then they should be investigated properly. More importantly, we must learn how to avoid similar mistakes in the future, if mistakes were made, and quickly apply any lessons to be learned from the experience. We are committed to that. We are committed to full accountability, as are the Emergency Services Bureau. They want a full review of their performance, in order that they may learn the lessons they need to learn.

As I said yesterday, if Mr Smyth or Mr Cornwell think these questions are worthy of investigation, then I believe it is important that they take their information to Mr McLeod or to the Australian Federal Police, who are investigating these issues on behalf of the coroner, and that Mr Smyth makes a sworn statement in relation to these matters to the Australian Federal Police, so that can form part of the Australian Federal Police investigation for the purpose of the coroner's brief.

There must be some information, some basis upon which they make these allegations which are so hurtful to the reputations of senior members of the Emergency Services Bureau. I cannot believe that the Liberal Party-the Leader of the Opposition-would stand up in this place and make allegations which are hurtful to the reputations of senior ACT public servants and do it on the basis of gossip, innuendo or a whim. There must be some basis to his information.

He needs to take that to the Australian Federal Police so they can fully investigate these

matters. He needs to do it early, to save the coroner the trouble of subpoenaing him and

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