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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2543 ..
MS TUCKER
(continuing):The reason I'm putting this amendment is that-and I know we've done this before in the Assembly when it's been a sensitive issue or an allegedly sensitive at the time; I remember we did it with Bruce Stadium and we also did it with CTEC; issues that involved people's names and apparent commercial sensitivities as well-if the document is held in the clerk's office, every member of the Assembly has an opportunity to have a look at it.
Clearly, people are still of the view that they want it made more widely available. I've heard the arguments from the minister which would suggest that isn't an appropriate thing; that if people, after having seen the advice, still want to do that, obviously it could be brought back for debate in the Assembly at a later date.
I move the amendment circulated in my name:
Add the following words: "and that the advice be held in the Clerk's office and made available only to Members, and that the advice be destroyed at the end of this Assembly.".
MR SMYTH
(Leader of the Opposition) (11.18): Mr Speaker, the real question here is: what is the government covering up? If you look at what has happened, you have to ask the question: why are you potentially facing legal action? Why did you actually have to go and get legal advice at all? Why? Because you didn't follow your own terms and conditions.Mr Quinlan
: Grubby little bastard.Mr Stefaniak
: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I just heard the Deputy Chief Minister use a very derogatory term.MR SPEAKER
: What was that?MR STEFANIAK
: He used the word "bastard", Mr Speaker, and I think he should withdraw that.Mrs Dunne
: I think there was an adjective like "corrupt"that went before it as well.Mr Stefaniak
: I didn't hear that.MR SPEAKER
: I didn't hear any of this.Mr Quinlan
: Mr Speaker, if anybody did hear that remark, for their benefit, I do withdraw it, without repeating it, which was tempting.MR SMYTH
: Again, it indicates the level of debate, where we get to the personal attack instead of going to the substantive issue. The substantive issue here is: why didn't the government comply with its own terms and conditions, as advertised? It's a well-known norm, it's an established process, that says, "On the drop of the hammer you pay a 10 per cent cheque, or you don't get the contract."You then negotiate with the second bidder
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